ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Alternative Vote

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Electoral Commission holds on the views of its staff prior to their appointment on the adoption of the alternative vote system for elections to the House of Commons.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its staff and commissioners provide, on recruitment, details of any prior political activity that falls within the restrictions set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
	In addition, commissioners (and staff, where relevant) maintain a register of interests which is published online and declare any interests relevant to items under discussion at board meetings. These declarations are recorded in the minutes which are published online. In some cases these include declarations of individual commissioners' past (or current) positions on various issues, including on the alternative vote.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Written Questions

Martin Horwood: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary questions for written answer have been tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith since May 2010; what the largest number of such questions tabled in a single day was; and what estimate the Commission has made of the cost associated with tabling of the questions.

John Thurso: The hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) has tabled 390 questions for written answer since May 2010; the largest number tabled on a single day was 173, on 8 February 2011. As indicated in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) on 30 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 731-2W, the House Service estimates that the average cost of a printed question prior to answer in the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010 was £80.

SCOTLAND

Citizens Advice: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Citizens Advice Scotland on the effects of the recent recession on young people in Scotland.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland recently met representatives from Citizens Advice Scotland. A number of issues were discussed.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice.

David Mundell: Other than minor purchases, the Scotland Office does not undertake direct procurement or tendering projects. It utilises existing service contracts between suppliers and the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice. Adherence to the principles outlined in the Cabinet Office's publication, 'Principles of Good Employment Practice' would be an issue for those bodies letting the contracts.

Glasgow University: Finance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with  (a) Ministers in the Scottish Executive,  (b) representatives of Universities Scotland,  (c) representatives of the university of Glasgow and  (d) trade unions on the economic effects of planned reductions in funding for language courses at the university of Glasgow.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland has regular discussions with representatives from Scotland's universities on a variety of matters. Higher education in Scotland is devolved and funding for Scottish universities is a matter for the Scottish Government. Universities are autonomous institutions and decisions on course provision are the responsibility of university courts.

Harassment

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to review the operation of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 as it applies to Scotland.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State has no plans to review Section 12 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 extend to Scotland only and are devolved to the Scottish Government.

Life Sciences

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with  (a) ministerial colleagues and  (b) others on support for the life sciences in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on this issue. Scotland is home to the second largest Life Sciences Cluster in the UK, and one of the most sizeable in Europe. With an established network of over 40 pharmaceutical clinical trials support and contract research organisations, more medical research is carried out per head of population in Scotland than anywhere else in Europe.
	Scotland's strong academic base in the Life Science field is an important competitive advantage, with Scotland's universities accounting for 12% of UK research staff and funds, higher than Scotland's share of the UK population.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development.

David Mundell: The Compact is an agreement between the Government, and its associated non-departmental public bodies, arm's length bodies and executive agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) in England. It aims to ensure that the Government and CSOs work effectively in partnership to achieve common goals and outcomes for the benefit of communities and citizens. The Scottish Government has operational responsibilities for engagement with CSOs in Scotland and has its own arrangements in place. However, where the UK Government have responsibility for funding services provided by CSOs in Scotland, it will honour the commitments made in the Compact in relation to CSOs it funds.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department has taken to support the big society initiative.

David Mundell: I have had several meetings with individuals and organisations in Scotland about the Government's vision for the big society. On 23 February I hosted a roundtable meeting with a range of stakeholders to explore how the Government's vision interacts with what is going on in Scotland.

JUSTICE

Cartel Client Review

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Claims Management Regulation-Monitoring and Compliance Unit regarding cartel client review; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2011,  Official  R eport, column 736W, to the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Tony Lloyd) in which I outlined the action taken by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) against Cartel Client Review Ltd.
	When a business is cancelled, there is no further action that the Claims Management Regulator takes unless we have evidence that the business is trading without authorisation. The Regulator will assist other enforcement agencies as appropriate if further investigations or other actions against any business or individuals within the business are considered necessary.

Chelmsford Prison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2010,  Official Report, column 215W, on Chelmsford Prison, for how long the tumble drier on E wing at HM Prison Chelmsford has been out of service; for what reason the action to repair it has not yet been carried out; which officer of HM Prison Service is responsible for the welfare of prisoners at HM Prison Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The tumble driers at HMP Chelmsford were not in use for some time due to awaiting parts to carry out repairs, these have now been received and the tumble driers repaired and are now in working order for use by prisoners.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) budget for 2010-11 and  (b) estimated budget for each of the next three years is for (i) the Legal Services Board, (ii) the Legal Services Commission, (iii) the Legal Services Consultative Panel, (iv) the National Archives, (v) the National Offender Management Service, (vi) the National Probation Service, (vii) the Northern Ireland Court Service, (viii) the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, (ix) the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission, (x) the Offices of Courts Funds, (xi) the Office of the Information Commissioner, (xii) the Office of the Judge Advocate, (xiii) the General Office of the Judicial Committee, (xiv) the Office for Judicial Complaints, (xv) the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman, (xvi) the Office of the Public Guardian, (xvii) the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, (xviii) the Parole Board, (xix) the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, (xx) the Prison Service Pay Review Body, (xxi) the Scotland Office, (xxii) the Sentencing Council, (xxiii) the Tribunal Procedure Committee, (xiv) the Tribunals Service, (xv) the Victims' Commissioner, (xvi) the Wales Office and (xvii) the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Kenneth Clarke: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14 
			 Legal Services Board 138,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Legal Services Commission 2.2 billion Not yet allocated 
			 Legal Services Consultative Panel Ceased to exist on 1 January 2010 
			 The National Archives Is funded directly by Parliament, not the MoJ 
			 National Offender Management Service 3 billion Not yet allocated 
			 National Probation Service 862 million Not yet allocated 
			 Northern Ireland Court Service These sit with Northern Ireland, not the MoJ 
			 Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission These sit with Northern Ireland, not the MoJ 
			 Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission These sit with Northern Ireland, not the MoJ 
			 Offices of Court Funds (Court Funds Office)(1) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Office of the Information Commissioner 6.4 million Not yet allocated 
			 Office of the Judge Advocate Accounted for within HMCS budget 
			 General Office of the Judicial Committee No matching body found 
			 Office for Judicial Complaints 950,000 862,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman 1.2 million Not yet allocated 
			 Office of the Public Guardian -1.6 million Not yet allocated 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee 5 million 5.2 million Not yet allocated 
			 Parole Board 10.2 million 10.5 million Not yet allocated 
			 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 6 million Not yet allocated 
			 Prison Service Pay Review Body This sits as part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. 
			 Scotland Office 34.2 million Not yet allocated 
			 Sentencing Council 1.77 million Not yet allocated 
			 Tribunal Procedure Committee 7,000 11,500 18,000 18,000 
			 Tribunals Service 247 million Abolished from 1 April 2011-work will be transferred to the new executive agency Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. 
			 Victims' Commissioner 950,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Wales Office 5.6 million Not yet allocated 
			 Youth Justice Board for England and Wales(2) (2)418 million Not yet allocated 
			 (1) The Court Funds Office is funded from interest from the Court Funds Investment Account. (2) Additional funding also comes from the Home Office and the Department of Education. 
		
	
	Please note that future budgets are subject to change. Where "not yet allocated" is stated, this means that the budget allocation work is under way and progressing, and in some cases may be complete, but that the final figure is subject to formal approval. When all budgets have been formalised, I will write to the House and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) budget for 2010-11 and  (b) estimated budget for each of the next three years is for (i) the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (Northern Ireland), (ii) Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace, (iii) the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives, (iv) the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information, (v) the Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice, (vi) the Civil Justice Council, (vii) the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (viii) the Courts Boards, (ix) the Criminal Cases Review Commission, (x) the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, (xi) the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, (xii) the Crown Court Rule Committee, (xiii) the Family Justice Council, (xiv) the Family Procedure Rule Committee, (xv) HM Courts Service, (xvi) HM Inspectorate of Court Administration, (xvii) HM Inspectorate of Prisons, (xviii) HM Inspectorate of Probation, (xix) HM Land Registry, (xx) HM Prison Service, (xxi) the Insolvency Rules Committee, (xxii) the Judicial Appointments Commission, (xxiii) the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman, (xxiv) the Judicial Office for England and Wales, (xxv) the Land Registration Rule Committee and (xxvi) the Law Commission.

Kenneth Clarke: The information requested is set out as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14 
			 Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council 1.3 million 682,000 Due to be abolished on 31 December 2011 
			 Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (Northern Ireland) These sit with Northern Ireland, not the MoJ 
			 Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace Information not held centrally as they are local to magistrates courts (HMCS) 
			 Advisory Council on National Records and Archives Part of the National Archives 
			 Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information Part of the National Archives 
			 Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice 46,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Civil Justice Council 322,000 147,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Civil Procedure Rule Committee 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 
			 Courts Boards Accounted for within HMCS budget and to be abolished shortly 
			 Criminal Cases Review Commission 6.3 million 5.9 million Not yet allocated 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 277.5 million 200.2 million Not yet allocated 
			 Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (1)261,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Crown Court Rule Committee 6.1 million 6.3 million Not yet allocated 
			 Family Justice Council 302,000k 257,400 Not yet allocated 
			 Family Procedure Rule Committee 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 
			 HM Courts Service 874.5 million Abolished from 1 April 2011-work will be transferred to the new executive agency Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service 
			 HM Inspectorate of Court Administration 1.6 million HMICA was abolished on 31 December 2010 
			 HM Inspectorate of Prisons 3.8 million Not yet allocated 
			 HM Inspectorate of Probation 4 million Not yet allocated 
			 HM Land Registry Is funded directly by Parliament, not the MoJ 
			 HM Prison Service Accounted for within NOMS budget (PQ 42839) 
			 Insolvency Rules Committee 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Judicial Appointments Commission 6.9 million 5.5 million Not yet allocated 
			 Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman 591,000 534,000 Not yet allocated 
			 Judicial Office for England and Wales 14 million 12.3 million Not yet allocated 
			 Land Registration Rule Committee Associated with HM Land Registry 
			 Law Commission 388,000 Not yet allocated 
			 (1) Includes secretariat support from MoJ estimated at £251,000. 
		
	
	Please note that future budgets are subject to change. Where "not yet allocated" is stated, this means that the budget allocation work is under way and progressing, and in some cases may be complete, but that the final figure is subject to formal approval. When all budgets have been formalised, I will write to the House and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Human Trafficking: Convictions

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences related to sex trafficking there were in each year since 2006.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants who were found guilty at all courts for offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in England and Wales, for the years 2006 to 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants who were found guilty at all courts for offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in England and Wales, for the years 2006 to 2009( 1,2,3) 
			  Statute  2006  2007  2008( 4)  2009 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 15 15 24 23 
			 (1) Includes offences under: Sexual Offences Act 2003 s.57 'Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation' Sexual Offences Act 2003 s.58 'Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation' Sexual Offences Act 2003 s.59 'Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation' (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Legal Advice and Assistance: Telephone Services

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the costs of establishing the Community Legal Advice Helpline as the single gateway to civil legal aid services.

Jonathan Djanogly: We published impact assessments alongside the consultation paper that outline potential costs and benefits of the proposals.

Legal Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what timetable he has set for his Department's review of the responses to the recent consultation on proposals for the reform of the legal aid system in England and Wales.

Jonathan Djanogly: We will take all the time necessary to review responses. It would be foolhardy to place a deadline on this work as such an approach would pre-suppose a uniform time standard for each individual response, which would be inappropriate under the circumstances.

Legal Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department are engaged in reviewing the responses to the recent consultation on proposals for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales; what methodology will be used to analyse those responses; and how many staff will be deployed on analysis at each stage of the process.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have significant numbers of staff engaged on the consultation responses. The exact amount varies as we are being ably supported by colleagues from the Legal Services Commission where possible, though we have a substantial core team that is currently exclusively deployed on reviewing responses.
	In terms of methodology, all responses are initially logged with transcripts of text transferred to the log. This data is then broken down by subject area, with summaries being produced for each question in the consultation, and by thematic area reflecting the chapters in the consultation paper eg alternative sources of funding. Both the logs and summaries are reviewed by policy teams so all suggestions and comments are factored into their thinking when developing proposals.
	In addition, we are undertaking a numerical analysis of responses, although this is only possible where respondents have addressed specific questions. This will be published alongside the response to consultation in due course.

Legal Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department worked primarily on legal aid matters in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: There are currently 36.5 (FTE) members of staff currently employed on legal aid matters which include:
	Legal Aid and Sentencing Bill
	Legal Aid Reform consultation and legislation
	Exceptional legal aid funding
	Impact of other Government Departments policy on MoJ and Legal Aid Fund.

Legal Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) legal firms,  (b) individuals,  (c) law centres,  (d) citizens advice bureaux,  (e) advocacy groups and  (f) others responded to his Department's recent consultation on proposals for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales.

Jonathan Djanogly: The consultation responses are still being processed therefore we are not able to provide this information at this time. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as it is available.

Legal Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals arising from his Department's Green Paper on legal aid reform.

Jonathan Djanogly: We will bring forward legislative proposals to the House as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Legal Aid

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve access to mediation services as part of his legal aid reforms.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government propose to retain legal aid for mediation in family matters. The 2010 bid round run by the Legal Services Commission saw an 11% increase in the number of mediation providers, with 201 organisations providing services in 1,002 locations across England and Wales. The Government are also working with the Family Mediation Council to ensure there is sufficient mediator provision and to increase awareness of mediation for the future.

Legal Aid

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the five highest amounts of legal aid paid in respect of a single case were in the last 10 years; and in which areas of law these cases were brought.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information requested is not readily available as it involves matching data in different formats from several current and legacy schemes. The information therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people resident in  (a) Coventry,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England received legal aid in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is responsible for administering the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. The LSC does not record the number of people who receive legal aid, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. One individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance, and one act of assistance can help more than one person.
	The following tables show the volumes of legal aid granted based on legal aid providers with postcodes falling within the constituencies of  (a) Coventry North West, Coventry North East and Coventry South  (b) the West Midlands region and  (c) England.
	The figures do not include legal aid received via telephone advice, Community Legal Advice Centres, the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme, telephone triage, or family mediation. These figures are unavailable on a regional basis.
	
		
			  Coventry constituencies-legal aid volumes 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Civil Representation certificates issued 1,100 1,040 907 950 1,007 
			 Legal Help New Matter Starts in Civil and Immigration 4,901 4,673 4,213 4,379 4,330 
			 Crime Lower claim volumes 9,165 8,809 7,457 7,710 7,362 
			 Crime Higher case volumes 844 857 933 992 951 
			 Total 16,010 15,379 13,510 14,031 13,650 
		
	
	
		
			  West Midlands region-legal aid volumes 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Civil Representation certificates issued 14,603 14,256 12,960 13,865 13,155 
			 Legal Help New Matter Starts in Civil and Immigration 68,777 69,282 66,901 73,939 62,917 
			 Crime Lower claim volumes 139,368 133,966 121,766 125,404 97,734 
			 Crime Higher case volumes 10,567 11,103 11,629 12,274 12,462 
			 Total 233,315 228,607 213,256 225,482 186,268 
		
	
	
		
			  England-legal aid volumes 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Civil Representation certificates issued 145,870 143,114 129,782 137,888 149,892 
			 Legal Help New Matter Starts in Civil and Immigration 660,004 688,034 668,339 744,880 746,855 
			 Crime Lower claim volumes 1,149,853 1,098,147 1,024,112 1,120,554 1,092,816 
			 Crime Higher case volumes 135,233 139,023 143,631 154,414 156,697 
			 Total 2,090,960 2,068,318 1,965,864 2,157,736 2,146,260

Legal Aid

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on measures to mitigate the effects on individuals of legal aid reform.

Jonathan Djanogly: Extensive discussions, at both ministerial and official levels, have been conducted with other Government Departments on a range of issues. These discussions will continue as we finalise proposals.

Legal Aid

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has estimated the effects on the public purse of the provision of early advice to individuals through the legal aid system.

Jonathan Djanogly: No such assessment has been made, and nor would it be possible to do so with any degree of accuracy.

Legal Services Commission: Complaints

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) grievances and  (b) complaints were made by personnel at the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to the LSC in each year for which figures are available; how many such complaints were (i) upheld and (ii) dismissed; and what the (A) financial and (B) other consequences for the LSC were in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010 there were 17 grievances. Between 1 April 2010 and 7 February 2011 there were 11 grievances, with the following outcomes:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Upheld in full 1 
			 Partially upheld 3 
			 Not upheld 6 
			 Result outstanding 1 
		
	
	There were no financial consequences for the LSC. In two instances, LSC policies were clarified to staff.

Legal Services Commission: Disciplinary Proceedings

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many personnel employed by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) have been subject to disciplinary action by the LSC in each year for which figures are available; and what action was taken in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: The LSC employs around 1,500 staff. Between 1 April 2010 and 7 February 2011 there were five disciplinary cases, of which three resulted in the members of staff receiving first written warnings.
	The LSC started recording information in relation to disciplinary cases in a centralised system in April 2010. Prior to that, records were kept on individual employee files in various local offices. The information could not therefore be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Legal Services Commission: Standards

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what obligations are placed on personnel of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to perform their work with reasonable care and skill; what action the LSC may take against any personnel in breach of such obligations and whether the LSC can take action to recover any losses to the LSC and those dealing with it in consequence of such failings;
	(2)  when and by what means the Legal Services Commission assessed the  (a) skill and  (b) competence of its personnel responsible for the 2010 tenders; and what account that assessment took of the comments on its personnel by the Divisional Court.

Jonathan Djanogly: Like most public sector organisations, the LSC has human resources policies and procedures to ensure that staff perform effectively in their roles. These include job descriptions, recruitment and selection processes, training and development and performance management through regular discussions with line managers. Front line staff are subject to a range of quality control measures on a regular basis, the results of which are fed into their performance management discussions.
	Actions taken where a performance issue is identified can range from assessing training needs to disciplinary proceedings and even dismissal, depending on the different circumstances.
	If a member of staff is found to have committed an offence relating to their work, the LSC or another party could take legal action to recover any losses.

Legal Services Commission: Standards

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what performance appraisals have been undertaken in respect of  (a) the Chair,  (b) the Chief Executive,  (c) other Commissioners,  (d) each Executive Director and  (e) each National Relationship Director of the Legal Services Commission since 1 January 2009; (i) when, (ii) how and (iii) by whom each such assessment was carried out; and what the results were in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: The process for performance appraisals is as follows:  (a) the Secretary of State for Justice undertakes the performance appraisal for the Chair;  (b) the Chair undertakes the performance appraisal for the Chief Executive;  (c) the Chair undertakes the performance appraisal for other Commissioners;  (d) the Chief Executive undertakes the performance appraisal for each Executive Director and  (e) the Executive Director Commissioning undertakes the performance appraisals for each National Relationship Director of the Legal Services Commission. Appraisals are conducted annually. The results of appraisals are confidential.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 4 January 2011 with regard to Mrs C.A. Beevers.

Kenneth Clarke: I replied to the right hon. Member on 15 February. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Members: Correspondence

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to respond to the letters of  (a) 16 December 2010,  (b) 13 January 2011 and  (c) 1 February 2011 from the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough on Mr Keith Nicholson.

Kenneth Clarke: I replied to the right hon. Member on 17 February. I apologise for the delay in doing so.

Next of Kin

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department takes to verify claims to be next of kin of those who die intestate; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: Under the law of England and Wales, entitlement to inherit or to administer the estate of a person who dies intestate is determined by the order of priority specified in the Administration of Estates Act 1925 and the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 respectively. Authority to administer the estate is conferred by the court through letters of administration.
	Any disputed claims to administer the estate or to inherit would ultimately have to be resolved by the court on the application of the interested parties. The Ministry of Justice does not verify such claims.

Reoffenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the level of reoffending of those convicted of shop theft; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The most recent published data for the 2008 cohort shows the one year re-conviction rate for adults convicted of theft was 65.2%. Within this group the re-conviction rate for adults convicted of shoplifting was 78.3%. The cohort includes adult offenders discharged from custody or commencing a court order between January and March of 2008. This is the latest available published data.
	More information on the reoffending rates is available from the Ministry of Justice website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm

Sexual Offences Act 2003: Convictions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there have been for offences under  (a) section 16,  (b) section 17,  (c) section 18 and  (d) section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in each year since those sections same into force; how many of those convicted were teachers in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, in England and Wales for the year 2004-09 (latest available) is shown in the following table.
	The Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Other than where specified in the statute, this information does not include the circumstances of each case. It is not possible from this centrally held data to identify the defendant's professional status.
	Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in spring 2011.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003( 1, 2) , in England and Wales for the year 2004-09( 3, 4, 5) 
			  Sexual Offences Act 2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 6)  2009 
			  Section 16   
			 Proceeded against 3 11 13 14 11 20 
			 Found guilty 3 12 12 12 13 12 
			
			  Section 17   
			 Proceeded against 1 0 5 2 8 12 
			 Found guilty 0 2 4 3 2 8 
			
			  Section 18   
			 Proceeded against 0 0 2 0 1 1 
			 Found guilty 0 0 2 1 1 0 
			
			  Section 19   
			 Proceeded against 1 1 0 1 0 2 
			 Found guilty 0 0 0 2 2 3 
			
			  England and Wales (Section s  16 to 19)   
			 Total proceeded against 5 12 20 17 20 35 
			 Total found guilty 3 14 18 18 18 23 
			 (1) Includes the following offences:  Sexual Offences Act 2003  Section 16 S.16(1)(e)(ii) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: sexual activity with a child-offender 18 or over and victim under 13.  Section 17 S.17(1)(e)(i) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity-offender 18 or over and victim 13-17. S.17(1)(e)(ii) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity-offender 18 or over and victim under 13.  Section 18 S.18(1)(f)(i) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child-offender 18 or over and victim 13-17. S.18(1)(f)(ii) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child-offender 18 or over and victim under 13.  Section 19 S.19(1)(e)(i) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act-offender 18 or over and victim 13-17. S.19(1)(e)(ii) and (2)-(5) Abuse of a position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act-offender 18 or over and victim under 13. (2) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004. (3) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed the number proceeded against as the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in an earlier year and the defendants were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year; or the defendants were found guilty of a different offence to that for which they were originally proceeded against. (6) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.

Terrorism: Compensation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those injured in the London 7/7 bombings have received the maximum payment allowed under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme;
	(2)  how many of those injured in the London 7/7 bombings and who have claimed compensation have been paid at the level of the cap on such payments.

Kenneth Clarke: Five people injured in the London bombings have received the maximum payment under the scheme, which is half a million pounds.

War Crimes: Prosecutions

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many war criminals were prosecuted following an investigation by the Metropolitan police in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Garnier: I have been asked to reply.
	There has been one such prosecution that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would categorise as a war crime in the last 10 years. Faryadi Zardad was prosecuted and convicted of conspiracy to take hostages and conspiracy to torture in 2005 after a Metropolitan police investigation. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

PRIME MINISTER

Childhood and Families Ministerial Taskforce

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  on which dates the Childhood and Families Taskforce has met; which Ministers were in attendance on each such occasion; and who else attended;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference of the Childhood and Families Taskforce;
	(3)  when he expects the Childhood and Families Taskforce to report;
	(4)  whether the Childhood and Families Taskforce will be taking  (a) oral and  (b) written evidence in the course of its work.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Jon Trickett) on 8 November 2010,  Official Report, column 24W.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Attorney-General which services provided by the Law Officers' Departments' interpreters are in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Garnier: The Law Officers' Departments do not employ staff specifically to undertake translation duties. When translation services are required they are commissioned from commercial translation service providers. Records are not kept centrally on the frequency of languages used by interpreters or how many interpreters are contracted for each language. Such information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Recorded costs incurred by the Law Officers' Departments on translation services during the last full financial year are contained in the following table:
	
		
			  Translation costs 2009-10 
			   £ 
			 Crown Prosecution Service(1) 1,679,594 
			 Serious Fraud Office 172,956 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department(2) 187,621 
			 (1) Includes costs for sign language interpreters.  (2) Includes data for Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. 
		
	
	No costs for translation services have been separately recorded by the National Fraud Authority (NFA) during this period. However, Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre run by the NFA, operates a Contact Centre as part of its service. The Action Fraud Contact Centre provider subcontracts a language interpretation service for telephone calls received in languages other than English. Welsh speakers at the Contact Centre provide translations for contacts received in Welsh, at no extra cost to the NFA.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Attorney-General what regulations his Department introduced between 30 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Edward Garnier: None.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Photographs

Robert Buckland: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she plans to take on the labelling of airbrushed photographs in the media.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government have no plans to label airbrushed photographs in the media.
	The Government are committed to bringing together the industry, experts and campaigners to work together to tackle low levels of body confidence. I am working with experts in this area, and relevant industries, to identify non-legislative ways of tackling this issue.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2011,  Official Report, column 133W, on pay: equal opportunities, what the average salary was of employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission who were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) of each ethnicity and  (d) in each category of disability in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an arm's length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
	Based on the salaries of EHRC employees as at 31 March 2010 (the most recent information available) the average annual salaries of the employee groups requested are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Male 36,100 
			 Female 34,300 
			 Black Minority Ethnic (BME)(1) 32,500 
			 Disability(2) 33,500 
			 (1) The EHRC calculates an overall ethnicity pay gap for all BME employees. They do not calculate average salaries for each ethnic group. (2) EHRC does not ask individuals to declare the nature of their disability when disclosing their monitoring.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the objectives are of the UK delegation at the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Lynne Featherstone: The UN Commission on the Status of Women is recognised worldwide as being the major international forum to progress women's rights. The UK delegation's objectives will be to ensure that the Government's commitment to promote rights internationally, as outlined in the Equality Strategy and the Department for International Development's Structural Reform Plan, are reflected in the Resolutions adopted and in joint statements by the European Union.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities which UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be represented at the 55th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women; and which NGOs participated in the 54th session.

Lynne Featherstone: The following list gives the UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) due to be represented at the 55th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) (known at the time of writing) and those represented at the 54th session last year that we were aware of:
	 CSW55- 2011
	National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO)
	Widows for Peace through Democracy
	Soroptimist International
	Widows Rights International
	UN Women UK
	Womankind Worldwide
	International Council of Jewish Women
	National Council of Women Great Britain
	Baha'i International
	Northern Ireland Women
	European Platform
	Hope Medical and Educational Enterprises
	Voluntary Services Overseas
	Widows Rights International
	Scottish Women's Convention
	UK Resource Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology
	International Federation of University Women
	World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts
	International Federation of Business and Professional Women
	UNAMINA
	 CSW54 - 2010
	National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO)
	Widows for Peace through Democracy
	Soroptimist International
	Widows Rights International
	UN Women UK
	Womankind Worldwide
	International Council of Jewish Women
	National Council of Women Great Britain
	Baha'i International
	Northern Ireland Women
	European Platform
	Hope Medical and Educational Enterprises
	Voluntary Services Overseas
	Widows Rights International
	Scottish Women's Convention
	UK Resource Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology
	International Federation of University Women
	World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts
	International Federation of Business and Professional Women
	UNAMINA
	Older Women's Network
	The Haven Wolverhampton
	Sudanese mothers for Peace
	UNA-UK
	Business and Professional Women UK
	Gender Statistics Users Group
	Amnesty International UK
	Open Democracy
	Women Making a Difference Project
	Race on the Agenda
	Engender
	Welsh Assembly of Women
	Oxfam
	FORWARD

Women's National Commission

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities when she plans to consult on the new arrangements for the discharge of the functions undertaken by the Women's National Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office has started developing a new approach to enable women and women's organisations to interact more closely and directly with Government. We will be consulting on the new approach soon; this will include how we engage with the former Women's National Commission (WNC) partners and reach a wider range of women and women's organisations.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Written Questions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations he has received to review the cost arising from the tabling of large numbers of questions for written answers by hon. Members.

George Young: My office receives regular representations about the impact on the work of Departments of the large volume of questions for written answer.
	HM Treasury regularly estimates the average cost of producing a written answer. The current average is £154, but Ministers will answer all questions where the cost of answering does not exceed the disproportionate cost threshold, which is currently set at £800 per question.
	The following table gives the estimated total cost of responding to written questions for each financial year from 2005-06 to 2009-10:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of written answers published  Estimated average  cost (£)  Estimated total cost (£ million) 
			 2005-06 61,477 (1)134 to 140 8.38 
			 2006-07 63,451 140 8.88 
			 2007-08 63,641 (2)140 to 149 9.05 
			 2008-09 73,601 149 10.97 
			 2009-10 55,615 (3)149 to 154 8.34 
			 (1) From 15 November 2006.  (2) From 3 December 2008.  (3) From 20 January 2010. 
		
	
	The figures in the table do not include the costs to the House of processing and printing questions and their answers. These costs are a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

WALES

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account she has taken of the Compact between the Government and civil society in policy development.

David Jones: The Compact between the Government and civil society organisations is accompanied by guidance on accountability and transparency to ensure that Government Departments as well as civil society organisations are clear about the level of commitment and the implications of not following the Compact.
	Where the coalition Government interact with civil society organisations in Wales, they will honour the commitments made in the Compact. The Welsh Assembly Government have operational responsibility for engagement with civil society organisations in areas where policy responsibility is devolved and have existing arrangements for engagement with civil society organisations. The Compact does not override these arrangements.

Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether  (a) she and  (b) Ministers in her Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of her Department's involvement in the big society initiative.

David Jones: My right hon. Friend and I are actively involved with numerous charities on a private basis as detailed in the list of Ministers' interests, recently published by the Cabinet Office.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Public Participation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 797-98W, on arts: public participation, what activities his Department's Taking Part survey monitors other than those cited in the answer.

Edward Vaizey: The Taking Part Survey collects data on the following arts activities/events:
	 Participation
	dance-live performance or rehearsal/practice (ballet, other dance but not for fitness);
	singing-live performance or rehearsal/practice (not karaoke);
	musical instrument-live performance, rehearsal/practice or played for own pleasure;
	written music;
	theatre-live performance or rehearsal/practice (e.g. play or drama);
	opera/musical theatre-live performance or rehearsal/practice;
	carnival;
	street arts (art in everyday surroundings like parks, streets, shopping centre);
	circus (not animals);
	visual art (e.g. painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture);
	photography (as an artistic activity, not family or holiday 'snaps');
	film or video-making as an artistic activity (not family or holidays);
	digital art-producing original digital artwork or animation;
	craft-any craft activity (e.g. textiles, wood, metal work, pottery, calligraphy etc.);
	creative writing-original literature (e.g. stories, poems or plays); and
	being a member of a book club.
	 Attendance
	visual art exhibition (e.g. paintings, photography or sculpture);
	craft exhibition (not crafts market);
	event which included video or digital art;
	culturally specific festival (e.g. Mela, Baisakhi, Navratri);
	theatre (e.g. play, drama, pantomime);
	opera/musical theatre;
	street arts (art in everyday surroundings like parks, streets or shopping centre);
	circus (not animals);
	carnival;
	live music performance (e.g. classical, jazz or other live music event but not karaoke);
	live dance event (e.g. ballet, African People's dance, South Asian, Chinese, contemporary or other live dance); and
	event connected with books or writing
	The survey also asks about attendance at museums and galleries, heritage sites and libraries, and asks about participation in a range of sports. The 2009-10 publication and associated data worksheets are available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7386.aspx
	The data can be analysed further using NetQuest at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/research_and_statistics/6762.aspx
	Links from this page provide further background information on the survey and links to the detailed questionnaires.

Broadband: North Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria he applied when selecting the North Wales pilot area for superfast broadband announced on 10 February 2011.

Edward Vaizey: North Wales is not a pilot area but will form part of the Welsh Assembly Government broadband programme for Wales. The £10 million funding announced by the Chancellor will help bring superfast broadband to hard-to-reach areas and extend superfast broadband to Pwllheli and the surrounding areas of North Wales. The spending allocation was in line with Broadband Delivery UK modelling.

Broadband: North Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he had with the Welsh Assembly Government prior to selecting the superfast broadband pilot area in North Wales announced on 10 February 2011.

Edward Vaizey: North Wales is not a pilot area. It forms part of the Welsh Assembly Government's broadband project for Wales.

Broadband: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of households in  (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency,  (b) East Ayrshire and  (c) Scotland with a broadband connection speed of less than 2 mbps.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK is working with the relevant authorities to accurately assess the current broadband provision at community level across the UK in its work to deliver the coalition Government's objective to facilitate universal broadband access of at least 2Mbps and achieve the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.

City Television Stations

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the introduction of city television stations.

Edward Vaizey: We are currently consulting industry and the public on the Local Media Action Plan. The Plan invites 'Expressions of Interest' from organisations interested in bidding to run a new network channel that will support local services. The formal award process for the new channel is expected to begin this summer.

Departmental Business Interests

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he discussed with Ofcom the appropriateness of its Director of Technology Resources responsible for promoting white space devices taking up the post of Chief Technical Officer at a mobile wireless data service provider; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether Ofcom took steps to remove responsibility for white space devices from the Director of Technology Resources once he had agreed to take up the post of Chief Technical Officer at a mobile wireless data service provider; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Hunt) has not discussed this matter with Ofcom. However, Ofcom has confirmed that as soon as the Director of Technology accepted an offer of employment at a mobile wireless data provider, he was removed from any involvement on Ofcom's work on White Space Devices.

Licensing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated any research on the potential benefits to the public of allocating spectrum in the 872/917 band for machine-to-machine and smart grid application.

Edward Vaizey: The Department has not commissioned or evaluated any research, to determine the potential benefits of allocating this band for these applications.

Olympic Games 2012

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to address the conclusions of the National Audit Office's report on preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, HC (2010-11) 756 in respect of  (a) the regeneration of East London,  (b) the sustainability of the Olympic Park and  (c) the provision of economic, social and sport participation legacies; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: As is usual parliamentary practice in relation to National Audit Office reports, Departments do not comment or respond to them in advance of a Public Account Committee (PAC) hearing. As there is a PAC hearing on the report scheduled for 21 March, the Government will consider the recommendations and respond in the usual way.

Olympic Games 2012 : Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons no improvements in sports facilities in Northern Ireland have been scheduled as part of the plans for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: Responsibility for sports facilities in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and Sport Northern Ireland.

Olympic Games 2012 : Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the  (a) First Minister and  (b) Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Northern Ireland Executive on the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the planning for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Hunt) has not met the First Minister or the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure to discuss the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the planning for the London 2012 Olympics. However, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and I are both members of the Sport Cabinet, at which we discussed the Olympics on 15 February. In addition, the Torch will visit all nations, including Northern Ireland, during the 2012 Torch Relay, and a Live Site is planned for Belfast during the games.

Public Libraries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) people who volunteered and  (b) hours given by volunteers in public libraries in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Data showing the number of library volunteers in England are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in their annual Public Library Statistics. Copies are available in the House Libraries. In 2009-10 there were 16,710 volunteers in libraries in England. They contributed 528,718 volunteer hours.

Radio Frequencies

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment Ofcom has made of the potential to allocate spectrum in the 872/917 band on an unlicensed or lightly-licensed basis for machine-to-machine and smart grid applications.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom published a consultation on the 872/917 MHz band in August 2009 which set out two general approaches to authorisation of these bands:
	A full licensing approach: under which a single or limited number of licences are awarded, e.g. a national licence that would support a wide area network applications such as mobile communications, potentially awarded via an auction;
	A light regulatory approach: in which individual transmitters are authorised without limitation on their numbers, either under a licence exempt regime, or under a light licensing regime. Both machine to machine and smart grid would be potential technologies under this approach.
	In the responses to the consultation, stakeholders were split between the uses of this band and it was unclear which approach should be taken.
	Ofcom's future work on this band will include further analysis into the potential to allocate spectrum in the 872/917 MHz band on an unlicensed or lightly-licensed basis for machine to machine and smart grid applications.

Radio Frequencies

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had on a second digital dividend; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate his Department and Ofcom have made of the likely financial benefits of a second digital dividend; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: I have noted that the European Commission's Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, currently under discussion with member states, has raised the possibility of considering the release of spectrum immediately below 790 MHz, known as the second digital dividend, in the longer term. This spectrum is used in the UK, as in other countries in the EU, for digital terrestrial television services. Any proposal to change must take into account the full economic and social impact of both the future use of the spectrum, and of making the change.
	The timing of any formal discussion on the so-called 700 MHz band is unclear, and is not the immediate focus of the proposed Commission Radio Spectrum Programme or any other initiative we know about. I would expect the Commission to produce a thorough impact assessment, including the potential costs and benefits, as the basis for any future discussions of potential alternative uses of this spectrum.
	There is much else in the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme that needs to be agreed and delivered in the short term and I expect that to be the focus in the immediate future.
	I have yet to have any discussions with interested parties in the UK specifically on the second digital dividend, but will continue to engage with current spectrum users and those interested in future use of the spectrum so as to make sure that the UK can derive the most economic and social benefit from its use.

Sports: Health

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he last met with the Scottish Government Minister for Public Health and Sport; and what matters were discussed.

Hugh Robertson: As Minister for Sport and the Olympics, I met with the Scottish Government Minister for Public Health and Sport on Tuesday 15 February in Cardiff at the Sports Cabinet. The meeting also involved the other devolved Administrations' Ministers with responsibility for Sport and the Chairs of the Sports Councils. The agenda items were: UK Sport/Sport England Merger, School Games, British Winter Sports Institute, whether Team GB should be changed to Team UK, National Governing Bodies' Governance and 2012 Legacy issues.

TREASURY

Aggregates Levy

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a levy is being imposed on aggregate extraction.

Justine Greening: There is no levy imposed on extraction of aggregates in the UK. The aggregates levy, introduced in 2002, is charged on each tonne of virgin aggregate at the first point of commercial exploitation.

Biofuels: Finance

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he is taking to support the development of the bioethanol sector.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Dr Wollaston) on 18 October 2010,  Official Report, column 551W.

Capital Gains Tax: Forests

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether private companies which purchase land sold under the Government's proposals for the disposal of the public forest estate will be liable for capital gains tax on profits arising from the use of such land.

David Gauke: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced on 17 February that the Government's proposals on the future management and ownership of the public forest estate are withdrawn.

Carbon Emissions

Nia Griffith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the consultation period on the proposed carbon price support did not last 12 weeks.

Justine Greening: The Code of Practice on Consultation acknowledges that shorter periods will at times be necessary. The consultation was published together with proposals to reform the UK's electricity market on 16 December.
	An eight-week consultation was necessary to ensure the Government could meet their commitment, announced in Budget 2010, to introduce legislation in Finance Bill 2011.

Carbon Emissions

Nia Griffith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons draft legislation on the Carbon Price Support was published in advance of the consultation process.

Justine Greening: The draft legislation was made available on 26 January 2011, before the consultation closed. Exposing the draft legislation allowed for public scrutiny in advance of the Budget, which is in line with HM Treasury's new approach to tax policy making.

Carbon Emissions

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a floor price for carbon; and what estimate he has made of the optimal floor price.

Justine Greening: An in-depth assessment of the costs and benefits of introducing a floor price for carbon is set out in the consultation document published on 16 December. The consultation sets out three indicative floor price scenarios in 2020 and the Government are seeking views from the public and industry on the optimal level. Copies are available in the Library of the House or online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_carbon_price_support.htm

Child Benefit

Karl Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the potential savings to the Exchequer of withdrawing child benefit from families with a higher rate tax payer if the higher rate threshold were £38,600.

Justine Greening: holding answer 26 January 2011
	The Government announced in the spending review that withdrawing child benefit from families with a higher rate taxpayer would save £2.5 billion from 2014-15. This information can be found on page 12 of the spending review document at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_completereport.pdf

Child Care Tax Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households his Department estimates will face losses of  (a) under £5,  (b) £5 to £10,  (c) £10 to £20 and  (d) £20 and over a week as a result of the reduction of the child care tax credit.

David Gauke: holding answer 17 February 2011
	No estimate has been made.
	The reduction of child care support to 70% from 80% is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
	Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full monetary impact on an individual household.

Child Care Tax Credit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect of reducing the second income threshold for the family element of the child tax credit from £50,000 to £40,000 on the weekly income of a family earning  (a) £42,500,  (b) £43,000 and  (c) £43,500 in 2011-12.

David Gauke: The reduction of the second threshold to £40,000 is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the emergency Budget and spending review.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the packages of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_annexa.pdf
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
	Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full monetary impact on an individual household.

Climate Change Levy

Nia Griffith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans for further reform of the climate change levy; and whether he plans to align the environmental taxes levied on fuels with their environmental impact.

Justine Greening: Announcements on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to make at Budget.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice.

Justine Greening: HM Treasury regularly reviews the established policies in place for employment terms and conditions to ensure they adhere to best practice and legal requirements.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average his Department took to respond to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: The Ministry of Justice publishes regular quarterly and annual figures on the responses Government Departments make to Freedom of Information requests. These show performance against the statutory 20 working day target. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of the third quarter, 2010. HM Treasury's data are as follows:
	
		
			  HM Treasury 
			  Percentage 
			   Q1 January to March  Q2 April to June  Q3 July to September  Q4 October to December 
			 2008 - - 99 100 
			 2009 99 100 98 99 
			 2010 99 99 99 - 
		
	
	The full report can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/foi-stats-bulletin-q3-2010.pdf
	The above table can be found on page 20.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he expects to respond to the Freedom of Information request submitted to his Department by the hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford on 20 September 2010;
	(2)  for what reasons the Freedom of Information request submitted to his Department on 20 September 2010 by the hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford has not been responded to; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: HM Treasury provided a response to seven of the 10 Freedom of Information requests received by the hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford on 20 September 2010 within the statutory 20 working day deadline. For the remaining three requests the deadline was extended as permitted by the Act to consider the public interest. HM Treasury replied to these requests on 25 February 2011.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for which services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: Translators are engaged on a temporary basis when required. No interpreters are permanently employed by the Treasury or any of its associated public bodies. In 2009-10, one translator was engaged by the Treasury to translate from Chinese at a cost of £145.00. No other spending on translators was incurred in 2009-10.

Departmental Press Releases

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions his Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010.

Justine Greening: HM Treasury has not provided any media briefings with or without embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Justine Greening: Between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011, my Department has introduced the following statutory instruments:
	The Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2010 (SI no. 2010/2937)
	The Somalia (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2010 (SI no. 2010/2956)
	The Financial Markets and Insolvency (Settlement Finality and Financial Collateral Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI no. 2010/2993)
	The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Administration Orders Relating to Insurers) Order 2010 (SI no. 2010/3023)
	The Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (SI no. 2011/99)
	The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI no. 2011/133)
	The Investment Bank (Amendment of Definition) Order 2011 ( SI no. 2011/239)
	The Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011 (SI no. 2011/245)

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for future end-year flexibility for the  (a) Welsh Assembly Government and  (b) Scottish and Northern Ireland devolved Administrations.

Danny Alexander: Spending plans announced in the Government's 2010 spending review require a robust framework of spending control. The end-year flexibility (EYF) system which allows departments and the devolved Administrations to carry forward unspent budget provisions into future years to discourage wasteful end-year spending has in practice, led to accumulated stocks that would further increase the deficit if they were spent. Therefore the Government plan to replace the existing EYF system from 2011-12. Further details of the new system will be set out later this year.

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with  (a) Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and  (b) Ministers of other devolved administrations on proposed changes to the rules regarding end year flexibility.

Danny Alexander: Delivering the spending plans announced in the Government's 2010 spending review will require a robust framework to control spending. The end-year flexibility (EYF) system which allows Departments and the devolved Administrations to carry forward unspent budget provisions into future years to discourage wasteful end-year spending has, in practice, led to accumulated stocks that would further increase the deficit if they were spent. The Government plan to abolish the existing EYF system at the end of 2010-11 and replace it with a new system from 2011-12 which will retain an incentive to avoid wasteful end-year spending and strengthen spending control.
	In past discussion with the devolved Administrations it was agreed during the spending review that the devolved Administrations can carry forward planned reductions in spending from 2010-11 to 2011-12 if they wish, and the Government will, standing by their existing commitment to the Northern Ireland Executive, to draw down end-year flexibility (EYF) in the current year and their commitment to carry forward underspends for the Department of Justice under the terms of the £800 million funding package which accompanied the devolution of policing and justice.

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much end year flexibility remains unspent by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Danny Alexander: HM Treasury publish data for all UK Government Departments including the devolved Administrations in the 2009-10 Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (Cm 7911).
	Details of EYF draw-downs were included in written ministerial statements made at times during supplementary estimate rounds. Information on Welsh Assembly Government EYF draw-down for 2010-11 was detailed in a written ministerial statement made on 14 February 2011.
	Following the draw-down of EYF in 2010-11 spring supplementary estimate, WAG have a balance of undrawn EYF of £367,310,000 (£128,016,000 resource cash and £239,294,000 resource depreciation).

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the end year flexibility relating to  (a) Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Northern Ireland was for each year since 1999-2000 for which figures are available.

Danny Alexander: Amounts eligible for carry forward under the DEL EYF scheme are published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (PEOWP). Copies of the 2001-02 to 2009-10 editions are on the Treasury's public website and may be viewed at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pes_peowp.htm
	A summary is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Total EYF stocks for the devolved Administrations 
			  £000 
			  PEOWP edition  Scottish Executive  Welsh Assembly Government  Northern Ireland Executive 
			 2001-02 695,805 377,942 337,716 
			 2002-03 879,983 199,556 417,250 
			 2003-04 1,209,581 286,657 483,635 
			 2004-05 1,531,892 270,057 388,739 
			 2005-06 1,453,698 425,864 394,313 
			 2006-07 1,528,561 607,022 603,351 
			 2007-08 952,282 899,913 714,207 
			 2008-09 669,849 970,394 523,655 
			 2009-10 366,835 594,376 624,478

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current procedures are regarding the treatment of end year flexibility monies between his Department and the devolved administrations.

Danny Alexander: In October 2010 HM Treasury published "Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly Statement of Funding Policy". The statement represents the continuation of long-standing conventions that have guided funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Chapter 11 of this publication sets out the current arrangements regarding end-year flexibility for the devolved Administrations. This publication is in the public domain and can be found on the Treasury's public website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_sr2010_fundingpolicy.htm

Excise Duties: Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has assessed the merits of freezing fuel duty on liquefied petroleum gas until 2018.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Katy Clark) on 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 557W.

Exports: Alcoholic Drinks

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many litres of  (a) beer and  (b) wine the UK exports to other EU countries per annum; and what estimate he has made of the size of the legitimate market for (i) beer and (ii) wine in the EU in litres per annum;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011,  Official Report, column 496W, on excise duties, what steps he is taking to tackle drawback duty fraud.

Justine Greening: Trade statistics on UK exports of beer and wine are published at:
	www.uktradeinfo.com
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold figures on the estimated size of the legitimate market in the EU.
	HMRC monitor and audit businesses making large volumes of drawback claims. Claims are selected for verification and actively challenged to ensure that all UK and EU conditions are met before a claim is authorised. HMRC also co-operate with authorities in other member states to validate drawback claims relating to supplies to businesses in the EU.

Financial Services: Regulation

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on implementation of the Retail Distribution Review; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Retail Distribution Review (RDR) is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), an independent body. The FSA will implement the RDR.
	The FSA has published final rules in all the key areas of the RDR, which will take effect from 1 January 2013. It will start monitoring individual advisers more closely this year and tackle issues in conjunction with their firm and accredited body. The FSA will begin a nationwide programme of RDR roadshows for smaller firms later in the year and will also offer separate events for larger firms.

Financial Services: Regulation

Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with his G20 counterparts recent progress on the work by the Financial Stability Board on improving consumer protection in financial services.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is currently developing a consultation on approaches to consumer protection. The UK is seeking to take a full role in the consultation process to inform the FSB's thinking, and that of other G20 members, and is currently in discussions with the FSB to determine how we can most effectively contribute.

Financial Services: Regulation

Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the management and staff appointed to the Financial Services Authority are suitably experienced and qualified for the purposes of ensuring the integrity of financial services regulation.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent body and, as such, determines the appropriate qualification levels for its staff.

Financial Services: Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed with  (a) his US counterpart and  (b) the Chair of the G20 Finance Ministers the findings and recommendations of Sir David Walker's report on the governance of banks and other financial institutions.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.

Financial Services: Regulation

Alistair Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what governance arrangements he proposes for the  (a) Prudential Regulatory Authority and  (b) Financial Policy Committee; when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to establish these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government set out proposals for reforming financial regulation-including the governance arrangements for the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Policy Committee-in a consultation document (Cm 8012) presented to Parliament on 17 February 2011. This document outlines the Government's intention to present a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the spring. Subject to parliamentary timetabling, the Government will introduce legislation to Parliament in mid-2011.

Fiscal Policy

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times and on what dates the Government breached the Golden Rule, as set out on page 16 of the Code for Fiscal Stability, since 1997.

Justine Greening: According to the March 2010 Budget, the previous Government met the Golden Rule over the previous economic cycle which ran from the first half of 1997 to the second half of 2006. Based on outturns for 2007-08 and 2008-09 for the current balance and forecasts to 2014-15 produced by the independent Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) in their pre-Budget forecast, published on 14 June 2010, the previous Government were set to run deficits on the current balance in every year.
	The OBR has not published estimates of the output gap prior to 2009. The estimates prior to 2009-10 are based on Treasury estimates of trend output and the output gap from the March Budget.
	The OBR have indicated that they expect to publish analysis of the output gap prior to 2009 this year which will explore different methodologies for evaluating it.

Friendly Societies: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the Financial Services Authority working on the regulation of friendly societies; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The matter concerned is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.

Friendly Societies: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met  (a) Sir John Vickers,  (b) Hector Sants and  (c) the Chief Executive of UK Financial Investments Ltd to discuss policy on building societies and friendly societies; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and implementation. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.

Government Departments: Redundancy Pay

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special severance payments have been reported to his Department to date; and what estimate he has made of the total monetary value of such payments for each Government department.

Danny Alexander: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can confirm, however, that the Treasury takes this responsibility seriously, requiring Departments to be able to justify and defend payments in value for money terms taking account of legal risks, and to review HR systems if weaknesses are identified.

Income Tax

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) England,  (b) the North West,  (c) Cumbria and  (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency will no longer be subject to income tax following the increase in allowance in April 2011.

David Gauke: In the June 2010 Budget, it was estimated that 880,000 persons would be taken out of tax in the United Kingdom as a result of the £1,000 increase in the personal allowance in 2011-12. 734,000 of these individuals reside in England, of which 106,000 reside in the North West.
	These estimate are based on 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected to 2011-12 in line with the June 2010 Budget assumptions. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates for parliamentary constituencies and counties (Cumbria and Westmorland and Lonsdale) due to small sample sizes at these levels of geography.

Income Tax

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) England,  (b) the North West,  (c) Cumbria and  (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency are in each income tax band.

David Gauke: Estimates of the number of taxpayers in  (a) England,  (b) the north-west,  (c) Cumbria and  (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, categorised by their highest marginal tax rate for 2007-08, the latest year available, are provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table a: Number of taxpayers in England 
			  Tax year 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 Starting rate 2,850,000 
			 Basic rate 20,900,000 
			 Higher rate 3,360,000 
			 All taxpayers 27,100,000 
			 (1) Rounded to 3 significant figures 
		
	
	
		
			  Table b: Number of taxpayers in the north-west region( 1) 
			  Tax year 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 Starting rate 398,000 
			 Basic rate 2,770,000 
			 Higher rate 317,000 
			 All taxpayers 3,490,000 
			 (1) Rounded to 3 significant figures 
		
	
	
		
			  Table c: Number of taxpayers in Cumbria( 1) 
			  Tax year 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 Starting rate 37,000 
			 Basic rate 218,000 
			 Higher rate 20,000 
			 All taxpayers 275,000 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest thousand  
		
	
	
		
			  Table d: Number of taxpayers in Westmoreland and Lonsdale constituency( 1) 
			  Tax year 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 Starting rate 6,000 
			 Basic rate 43,000 
			 Higher rate 5,000 
			 All taxpayers 55,000 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest thousand  Notes: 1. Tables show number of taxpayers by their highest marginal tax rate. 2. Estimates at each rate may not sum to the total due to rounding.  Source: Survey of Personal Incomes, 2007-08 See: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/inc-distribution-note.pdf

Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions: Non-payment

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of employees who have paid national insurance contributions and income tax which have not been passed on to HM Treasury by employers in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: The information requested is not available.
	There is an in-built time lag between tax and national insurance being deducted from employees' pay under PAYE and it being paid over to HMRC. Monthly deductions are due by the 19 of each month-or the 22 when payments are made electronically.
	For that reason there could be, at any given time, any number of employees who have had tax and NIC deducted but whose employers have not paid it over to HMRC as they are not yet required to do so.

Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions: Non-payment

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many companies have been prosecuted for non-payment of income tax on behalf of employees in each region of the UK in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many companies have been prosecuted for  (a) non-payment of employee national insurance and  (b) non-payment of employer national insurance in each region of the UK in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The number of prosecutions arising from criminal investigations by HMRC into theft of deductions is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Prosecutions are undertaken by the relevant independent prosecuting authorities.
	The recovery of unpaid tax debt is a civil matter. In such cases HMRC seek action through the county court (in England and Wales), sheriff's court (in Scotland) and magistrates court (in Northern Ireland).

Individual Savings Accounts: Interest Rates

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals to improve the interest rates offered on individual savings accounts;
	(2)  if he will assess the effect of present levels of inflation on the monetary value of savings in individual savings accounts.

Mark Hoban: The Bank of England is charged with meeting the Government's inflation target, helping to deliver price stability. The effect of inflation on the capital value of savings will also depend on the interest rate on the account.
	The Bank of England has operational independence to set interest rates. Interest rates offered on individual savings accounts (ISAs) are a commercial decision for ISA providers.
	A number of banks and other institutions offer interest rates significantly above the Bank of England base rate, and savers can ensure they get the best possible income from their savings by shopping around.
	The Consumer Financial Education Body, soon to be known as the Money Advice Service, publishes comparative tables of savings accounts and the interest rates offered as part of its Moneymadeclear initiative.
	The ISA industry has also agreed to publish interest rates on all ISA statements from April 2012. I believe that this increased transparency is an important step, and I have encouraged providers to do this sooner if possible.

Members: Correspondence

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North of 26 November 2010, regarding the retail distribution review and independent financial advisers.

Michael Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's letter to him dated  (a) 5 November 2010 and  (b) 13 January 2011 with regard to his constituent Mr Brian Neilson.

Mark Hoban: I wrote to all hon. Members on 21 February to set out the Government's overall position on retail distribution review. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that hon. Members may have raised.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 11 November 2010 with regard to Ms K. Chung.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sent a detailed response to the right hon. Gentleman on 23 December 2010 explaining that they were replying on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	HMRC has posted a copy to the right hon. Gentleman's parliamentary office as it would appear he did not receive the original letter.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 11 January 2011 with regard to Mr J D Remington.

Mark Hoban: I have replied to the right hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 4 January 2011 with regard to Mr J Burchardt.

Justine Greening: I wrote to all hon. and right hon. Members on 21 February to set out the Government's overall position on fuel duty related issues. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that Members may have raised.

National Insurance Contributions

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further representations he has received on regions which have not been included in the national insurance holiday scheme since 15 January 2011; and whether he has given further consideration to extending the scheme.

David Gauke: HM Treasury receives a wide range of representations on matters covering its responsibilities. In keeping with the custom of successive Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details.
	The objective of the scheme is to support the transition to a more sustainable model of economic growth by reducing labour costs in those regions currently most reliant on public sector employment. In considering how best to meet this objective, the Government have therefore not given further consideration to extending it to regions least reliant on public sector employment.

NHS: Redundancy Pay

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special severance payments were reported to his Department by  (a) NHS acute trusts,  (b) foundation trusts,  (c) mental health trusts,  (d) special health authorities,  (e) strategic health authorities,  (f) primary care trusts,  (g) ambulance trusts and  (h) care trusts in the last three years; and what the total (i) monetary value and (ii) number of payments was for each organisation in each such year.

Danny Alexander: The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Health, the right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) on 10 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 428-30W.

Pensions

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to review closed direction pensions transfers;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of closed direction pensions transfers for employees moving between the public sector and a social enterprise on  (a) affordability of public sector pensions and  (b) competition between providers of public services;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effects of uncapped defined benefit public sector pension schemes on labour market mobility; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 17 February 2011
	The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission is considering which organisations should have access to public service schemes, as set out in its Terms of Reference. Its final report is expected before Budget.
	The commission's report concluded that current pension structures, combined with the requirement to provide broadly comparable pensions under the Fair Deal policy, are a barrier to non-public service providers, potentially reducing the efficiencies and innovation in public service delivery that could be achieved. In response, the Government announced they would review the Fair Deal policy, to report by summer 2011.
	In addition, the interim report concluded there is a need to facilitate, or at least not prevent, many different ways of providing public services and mobility between public and private sectors but that extending access to public service pension schemes for non-public service employees does not appear to offer a long-term sustainable solution.

Personal Income

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single parent families resident in  (a) Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency,  (b) the North East and  (c) England he expects to have their annual income reduced as a result of implementation of the proposed changes to child benefit.

David Gauke: Information on household income and composition for single parent child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency or regional level.
	The number of single parent families affected by the removal of child benefit from households containing a higher-rate taxpayer in England is estimated to be around 50,000.

Public Sector: Borrowing

Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of Government borrowing was on 15 September 2008.

Justine Greening: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) together with HM Treasury produces a monthly bulletin on the public sector finances. As such, only month end figures are available.
	As at 30 September 2008, public sector net debt (PSND) stood at £566.0 billion (39.5% of GDP).

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many homes have attracted the zero rate of stamp duty in respect of zero carbon homes since October 2007;
	(2)  how much has been claimed in stamp duty relief in respect of zero carbon home purchases since October 2007;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of zero carbon homes currently under construction expected to qualify for stamp duty land tax relief.

David Gauke: For transactions completed between October 2007 and December 2010 claims for zero carbon homes relief from stamp duty land tax were made on 65 home sales, where the selling price was above £125,000. The relief claimed on these sales amounted to £182,000. The number of zero carbon homes currently under construction is not available.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a stamp duty rebate for homes participating in the Green Deal.

David Gauke: The Government are developing the Green Deal, which will enable households and businesses to invest in energy efficiency at no upfront cost and repay this through the expected savings on their energy bill. We currently intend that the Green Deal will operate independently of any tax incentives.
	Stamp duty land tax policy, like that of all taxes, is kept under review through the normal Budget process.

Taxation: Financial Services

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was paid on profits by banks in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs do not currently publish statistics of tax paid on profits by banks. Historical financial sector Corporation Tax receipts, which will include banks, is published in Table 11.1 on the HMRC National Statistics website. The latest update is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11_1.pdf

Taxation: Low Incomes

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the level of taxation for people who earn no more than the national minimum wage.

David Gauke: At the June 2010 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the 2011-12 income tax personal allowance for those aged under 65 would be increased by £1,000 in cash terms, taking it from £6,475 now to £7,475 in 2011-12.
	The June Budget estimated that the increase in the personal allowance will lift 880,000 of the lowest income taxpayers out of income tax altogether, and will be worth up to £170 a year for 23 million basic rate taxpayers. The Government's longer term goal is to raise the allowance to £10,000, with real terms steps in that direction every year.
	An individual working full time on the current adult national minimum wage (which will apply until October 2011) of £5.93 per hour would have gross annual earnings of approximately £10,800.(1) Assuming this is their only source of income, the £1,000 cash increase in the personal allowance would decrease their income tax liability by 20% relative to the plans inherited from the previous administration. This is based on estimates from the June 2010 Budget.
	The national minimum wage applicable after 1 October 2011 is subject to future uprating decisions.
	(1)This assumes the individual is working 35 hours a week, and is paid for 52 weeks in the year at the same hourly wage rate.

Taxation: Multinational Companies

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of Exchequer receipts of exempting UK-registered companies from corporation tax on foreign branches in  (a) 2011,  (b) 2012,  (c) 2013 and  (d) 2014.

David Gauke: The Taxation of Foreign Branches measure, as set out in draft legislation in December, was estimated to have a steady state cost of £100 million a year by the end of the scorecard period 2014-15.
	Specific figures and the five-year time-series will be made available at Budget 2011 when the policy is finalised.

VAT

David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department assessed the merits of increasing the rate of value added tax to 22.5 per cent. prior to May 2010.

David Gauke: I am not aware of, or accountable for, any assessments made by my Department before May 2010 on the merits of increasing VAT to 22.5% since it is an established convention that a new Administration does not generally have access to any papers of a previous Administration of a different political complexion that would reveal former Ministers' opinions.

VAT: Clothing

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of children in respect of whom there is a liability to pay value added tax for the purchase of adult-sized clothing and shoes; and if he will bring forward proposals to exempt value added tax on all clothing and shoes for children.

David Gauke: No such estimates have been made. Children's clothing is zero-rated for VAT. Under longstanding agreements with our EU partners we can retain our existing VAT zero rates but we cannot apply any new ones or extend the scope of existing zero rates. There is no provision in our agreements with our EU partners that would permit the exemption of children's clothing.

VAT: Electronic Books

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the Government's policy on the rate of value added tax charged on electronic books; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Under EU law, VAT on electronic books must be charged at the standard rate. Existing agreements with our EU partners do not allow the UK or other member states to extend the scope of their existing reliefs.

Welfare Tax Credits: Uprating

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings to the public purse his Department expects to make as a result of using the consumer prices index for the uprating of tax credits in  (a) 2015-16 and  (b) each of the subsequent five years.

Justine Greening: This measure was part of a package of changes announced at the June Budget 2010. The costing was updated at the spending review and is given in the following table:
	
		
			   Saving to the Exchequer  (£ million) 
			 2011-12 305 
			 2012-13 405 
			 2013-14 950 
			 2014-15 1,390 
			 2015-16 1,990 
		
	
	The costing does not take account of the various other measures announced in the June Budget and spending review 2010 since it was first costed as part of the overall package.
	Estimates beyond 201 5-16 are unavailable.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011,  Official Report, column 340W,  (a) when and  (b) where he has met members of the campaign team supporting a yes vote in the proposed referendum on the alternative vote not on Government premises but with an official or officials paid from the public purse in attendance; who participated in each meeting; and whether any departmental resources were used to facilitate each meeting.

Nicholas Clegg: There have been no meetings between myself and the Yes Campaign on non-Government premises with officials in attendance.

BBC

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what recent meetings  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in his Office have had with the director-general of the BBC; and whether pensions were discussed at those meetings;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 25013, on the BBC and pensions, tabled on 15 November 2010.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 22 November 2010,  Official Report, column 138W.

Members: Conduct

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward proposals for electors in a constituency to recall their elected Member of Parliament.

Mark Harper: The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation to introduce a power to recall Members of Parliament where they have engaged in serious wrongdoing. We are currently considering what would be the fairest, most appropriate and robust procedure.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of funding to be provided by her Department to the agricultural sector for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan in each of the next four financial years.

James Paice: In England, the farming industry has made a commitment to lead the way to drive down agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan. A framework for action was published in February 2010, and this outlines how reductions could be made through more resource-efficient practices, i.e. measures that involve simple changes at minimal or no extra cost to farmers. As well as enabling a reduction in emissions, these practices would also improve farmers' competitiveness.
	The industry partnership is now working towards the publication of a Delivery Plan, which will set out how they intend to put the action plan into practice. DEFRA has advised and encouraged the partnership to produce a robust plan, and have supported its development by loaning a policy official to coordinate and facilitate its preparation.
	As outlined in the business plan, DEFRA is committed to supporting and developing British farming, and this includes providing the necessary advice and knowledge to enable the sector to reduce on-farm emissions through measures that make good business sense. Additional financial support that DEFRA provides includes:
	investing £12.6 million over a five-year period, in partnership with the devolved Administrations, to improve the agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory, that aims to strengthen our understanding of on-farm emissions, thus enabling better targeting of actions and fully capturing the positive actions that farmers are already taking;
	commissioning a pilot project to develop and trial methods for delivering integrated environmental advice for farmers, which includes reducing GHG emissions.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she proposes to implement prohibitions on the use of wild animals in circuses.

James Paice: We are currently considering the 13,000 or so responses to our consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses before we publish a summary. In the meantime, Lord Henley has been meeting with representatives of welfare groups and the circus industry.

British Sugar

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of British Sugar.

James Paice: holding answer 7 February 2011
	 My officials have had regular contact with representatives of British Sugar, including in recent weeks, regarding the impact of the severe weather on beet supplies and processing.

Common Agricultural Policy

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of progress by the European Commission on publishing proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

James Paice: I welcome the official start of negotiations on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP) following the publication of the Commission's communication in November 2010. The UK has now considered and responded to these proposals; the response is available on DEFRA's website. Legislative proposals are due in summer of this year, and the UK will continue to work with the Commission to ensure ambitious reform of the CAP which will deliver good value for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment.

Dairy Farming: Contracts

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a mandatory code of practice highlighting best and worst practice in raw milk contracts.

James Paice: There are currently no plans to introduce a mandatory code of practice in relation to raw milk contracts.

Dairy Farming: Contracts

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make mandatory the use of written contracts between farmers and dairy companies.

James Paice: Proposals on the use of written contracts between farmers and milk processors are currently progressing through the EU legislative process as part of the Commission's proposed dairy package. As drafted, these would allow member states to decide whether or not to make such contracts compulsory in their territory.
	The Government's preference on contracts is for the least prescriptive approach, leaving the detail of contracts for contracting parties to agree. A decision on any domestic legislation relating to these proposals cannot be made until the legislation contained in the proposal is in its final form.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff have left her Department's employ since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: 724 staff (679.38 full-time equivalents) left DEFRA and its Executive agencies between 31 May 2010 and 31 January 2011.
	The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff her Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: On 31 January 2011 the number of staff employed by DEFRA and its Executive agencies was  (a) 9,716 (headcount) and  (b) 9,147.81 full-time equivalents.
	The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by her Department in May 2010.

Richard Benyon: On 31 May 2010 the number of staff employed by DEFRA and its Executive agencies was  (a) 10,266 (headcount) and  (b) 9,686.39 full-time equivalents.
	The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations her Department introduced between 30 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

James Paice: The Department made the following 12 statutory instruments between 30 November 2010 and 8 February 2011:
	1. Inshore Fisheries and Conservation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2011 (SI 2011/177).
	2. The Animal Welfare (Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes) (Appointed Day) Order 2011 (SI 2011/150).
	3. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SI 2011/95).
	4. Uplands Transitional Payment Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1150).
	5. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/3033).
	6. Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/3034).
	7. Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2010/3028).
	8. Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2962).
	9. Agriculture (Cross compliance) (No 2) Regulations 2009 (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2941).
	10. Licensable Means of Fishing Order 2010 (SI 2010/2910).
	11. Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) Regulations 2010 (SI2010/2693).
	12. Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2882).

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which services provided by  (a) her Department and  (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: Interpreters are commissioned on an ad hoc basis by individual Core DEFRA business units out of delegated budgets. Information on interpretations is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Core does not hold this information for associated public bodies.

Fairtrade Initiative: Public Sector

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development on the proposal to introduce a 50%. minimum standard for fairly traded tea and coffee procured by central Government departments, prisons and the armed forces under Government Buying Standards.

James Paice: I have written to all Government Departments saying we will introduce Government Buying Standards for food and food services, with proposed criteria based around improving sustainability and ensuring value for money.
	The Secretary of State for International Development and I agree that the Government Buying Standards should encourage the use of fairly traded tea and coffee, and current proposals are that at least 50% of tea and coffee supplied should be certified as such.
	There is nothing to stop Departments from procuring more fairly traded goods than this minimum, however all Departments will want to ensure that increased costs to the taxpayer are minimised. We have asked for further evidence of equivalent costs to be submitted by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Fisheries: Quotas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the  (a) EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and  (b) her Norwegian counterpart on catch quotas for fish.

Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I lead on discussions with our European counterparts on the discarding of fish and catch quotas.
	The EU and Norway agreed their position on catch quotas at the annual bilateral meetings in December 2010. These meetings were attended by UK officials. The agreement was endorsed at the Fisheries Council in December where UK Ministers negotiated with the European Commission and member states to agree fishing opportunities for 2011. The importance of trialling the catch quota management system formed an important part of those negotiations.
	There will be further discussions at the High Level Political Meeting on Discards on 1 March with member state Ministers and the Commission on the topic of minimising discards, which will include catch quotas and the reform of the common fisheries policy. The UK will continue to lead the way within the EU on finding practical solutions to the discard issue.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely level of grants for the fishing fleet in the next four years.

Richard Benyon: Based on current information, we estimate that the likely level of grants available to the UK fishing fleet over the next four years is around £38 million from the European Fisheries Fund. A further £19 million is available under the fund for aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing, and sustainable development of fisheries areas. In addition we are paying light dues of around £135,000 a year and up to £342,000 in funding e-logbooks for over 15 metre vessels.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which flood defence schemes under the improvement programme for 2011 to 2015 are being reviewed with a view to cancellation.

Richard Benyon: No schemes are being reviewed with a view to cancellation. All schemes already under construction will be completed.

Flood Control: Cornwall

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what expenditure her Department has incurred on West Cornwall Flood risk assets health and safety improvements; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse is of the Furze Brook Ottery St Mary to culvert and screen improvements;
	(3)  what the cost to the public purse is of the Drakewalls Stream Screen improvements;
	(4)  what the cost to the public purse is of the Braunton flood defence improvements;
	(5)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Sladesbridge stone wall repairs;
	(6)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the  (a) South Devon  (b) North Devon and  (c) East Cornwall flood risk assets health and safety improvements;
	(7)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Cornwall main river trash screens installation of closed circuit television cameras;
	(8)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Truro tidal defence improvements;
	(9)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Polperro trash screen improvements;
	(10)  what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Stoke Canon River Culm flood alleviation scheme.

Richard Benyon: The following table for flood defence schemes within the South West Regional Flood Defence Committee programme indicates the total flood defence grant in aid required for each of the schemes listed.
	DEFRA has national policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management and provides funding through grant in aid to the Environment Agency, which also administers grant for capital projects to local authorities and internal drainage boards (collectively known as operating authorities).
	
		
			  £ 
			  Location  Spend to date  Funding required from 2011-12 onwards 
			 Furze Brook Ottery St Mary Culvert and Screen 45,000 500,000 
			 Braunton Flood defence improvements 0 700,000 
			 Stoke Canon River Flood Alleviation Scheme 191,000 1,506,000 
			 Truro Tidal Defence improvements 260,000 2,300,000 
			 South Devon flood risk health and safety improvements 0 62,000 
			 North Devon flood risk health and safety improvements 0 21,000 
			 East Cornwall flood risk health and safety improvements 0 255,000 
			 Cornwall main trash screens-installation of CCTV 88, 000 200,000 
			 West Cornwall Flood risk assets health and safety improvements 0 155,000 
			 Drakewells Stream Screen Improvements 0 30,000 
			 Sladesbridge Stone Wall Repairs 0 40,000 
			 Polperro trash screen improvements 0 40,000

Flood Control: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated to flood defence schemes in each year of the spending review period; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is providing the Environment Agency with a capital budget of £258.8 million a year for the duration of the spending review period which will fund the majority of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes. The Environment Agency also has a resource budget for spend on activities including maintenance of existing defences, flood forecasting, and incident response.
	By the end of the period, DEFRA expects to spend at least £2.1 billion on flooding and coastal erosion risk management activity (including flood defence schemes, maintenance of existing defences, developing flood forecasting technologies and heightening public awareness of flood risk) and to improve protection for at least 145,000 homes.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Disease Control

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on border controls to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease into the UK from other countries where there are outbreaks; which countries are subject to such border controls at present; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: holding answer 17 February 2011
	 Before a non-European Union (EU) country is approved to export to the EU, the exporting country must have acceptable disease status, the recognised standard for relevant control authorities and guarantees from the country with regard to compliance with EU import rules and results of EU missions to these countries.
	All meat imported from non-EU countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. Imports of products of animal origin (POAO) and live animals are checked at approved facilities at border inspection posts (BIPS).
	All consignments of imported meat have a documentary check on the veterinary certification, and an identity check, to match the goods to the certification. A minimum of 20% of consignments of meat imported from non-EU countries undergoes a physical check by an official veterinary surgeon, and this rises to 50% for poultry and game. All consignments of live animals are physically checked. A random, non-discriminatory proportion (3%) of animals entering via a BIP are tested as part of compliance checks.
	DEFRA's International Disease Monitoring (IDM) monitors outbreaks of high impact diseases around the world. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is among those diseases of major concern. When DEFRA becomes aware of a new animal disease outbreak in another country, we carry out an initial rapid risk assessment of the risk of introduction of that disease into the United Kingdom (UK) and may produce a preliminary outbreak assessment. If this preliminary assessment concludes that a full qualitative risk assessment is not justified, then we will publish the preliminary outbreak assessment here:
	www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimai/diseases/monitoring/index.htm
	There is a continual low risk of introduction of FMD into the UK and the EU from any affected region, including Africa, the Middle East and Central/East Asia, primarily through illegal imports. We currently consider that generally there would be a negligible risk of the introduction of FMD from an affected country through legal imports because of the system of approval and certification laid down in EU law for countries approved for export to the EU.
	Since November 2010 to today, South Korea has reported over 140 outbreaks of FMD strain O across the country in a re-emergence of disease. North Korea has similarly recently reported FMD. The disease is considered endemic in several other Asian, African, Middle Eastern and South American countries and there are a few countries which are officially FMD free either with or without vaccination. Closer to home, outbreaks are occurring regularly in North Africa (eg Egypt and Libya) and the Middle East (eg Iran and Iraq) and Turkey has reported over 1,400 outbreaks of FMD in the last 12 months. In January 2011, an incursion in Bulgaria just two kilometres from the Turkish border was reported to the European Commission. This incursion in wild boar and domestic animals has led to special protective measures being put in place by the EC for Bulgaria, in terms of biosecurity, transport and the movement of susceptible animals and POAO.
	UK Border Agency (UKBA) is responsible for anti-smuggling checks at the Great Britain border on POAO. The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland (DARDNI) is responsible for these controls in NI. Personal imports of meat and dairy products (which may carry diseases such as FMD) are banned from outside of the EU.
	UKBA frontline staff are employed as multifunctional anti-smuggling staff with a responsibility to tackle a range of risks at the border, including dealing with illegal imports of POAO. Enforcement staff are deployed on a mobile and flexible basis and, at major ports and airports, are supported by the use of detector dogs specifically trained to detect POAO, as well as X-ray technology.
	DEFRA and UKBA continue to work together to ensure that UKBA delivers an enforcement strategy that targets the entry routes that pose the greatest threat of introducing animal disease (including FMD) and responds flexibly to changing patterns in risk. DEFRA provides UKBA with a bespoke global risk map that categorises countries into Red, Amber and Green risks according to the prevalence of animal diseases that can be transmitted in products. UKBA use this map to inform their risk-based targeting activities. Countries considered endemic for FMD and other diseases, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever, are always on the list, but the list of countries is constantly being updated. UKBA also use historical data on type of products seized, high-risk routings and origin, methods of concealment and risk trends; specific intelligence; results of operational checks; and information from other enforcement agencies.
	UKBA also responds to specific disease notifications, such as serious disease outbreaks, for which they can increase controls if necessary. For example, following the recent outbreak of FMD in Bulgaria (part of the EU), we have worked with UKBA to reduce the risk of unregulated products entering the UK from the affected region. This is an exceptional measure as customs powers do not normally apply to intra-EU movements of POAO goods.
	The re-emergence of FMD in Asia and the Middle East and the incursion into Bulgaria highlights in particular the importance of farmer awareness in observing good biosecurity and reporting disease promptly, as well as how problematic disease control is, once it has emerged. We will of course continue to monitor the situation and work closely with UKBA to reduce the risk of disease incursion.

Forestry Commission

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of forest land the Forestry Commission owns in  (a) Oxfordshire and  (b) Oxford West and Abingdon constituency; and where such land is located.

James Paice: The following table lists the location, name, size and ownership type of land managed by the Forestry Commission in Oxfordshire. The Forestry Commission does not manage any land in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.
	
		
			  Grid Reference  Wood Name  Ownership Type( 1)  Area (hectares) 
			 SU696835 Greyhone Freehold 11 
			 SU679821 Chartersfield Wood Freehold 19 
			 SU738798 Crowsley Park Leasehold 76 
			 SU674832 Ipsden Freehold 38 
			 SP603102 Menmarsh Freehold 3 
			 SU692832 Burnt Platt Freehold 40 
			 SU724921 Queen, College Freehold 117 
			 SU727956 Waterpenny Freehold 137 
			 SU728956 Cowleaze Freehold 30 
			 SU259961 Buscot Leasehold 125 
			 SU258948 Badbury Leasehold 42 
			 (1 )The public forest estate is owned by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967.

Forestry Commission

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates she has met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the operation of the Forestry Commission since May 2010.

James Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular correspondence with Scottish Ministers. She has not met them to discuss the operation of the Forestry Commission but I met Richard Lochhead MSP on 14 February 2011 to discuss matters including the Forestry Commission.

Forestry Commission

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Forestry Commission woodlands has been sold since 2010.

James Paice: Since the end of 2010, 937 hectares of land has been sold by the Forestry Commission in England. This represents less than 1% of the Forestry Commission public forest estate.

Forestry Commission: Land

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to sell Forestry Commission land holdings of each type.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in England in  (a) West Midlands and  (b) nationally.

James Paice: holding answer 9 February 2011
	 Since the beginning of October last year we have received over 5,000 representations on the sale of the public forest estate.
	We are not able to break these representations down into those that specify the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in the West Midlands.

Forests

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on protecting threatened or endangered species in forests in England owned by  (a) the Forestry Commission and  (b) private owners (i) in total and (ii) per 100,000 hectares of forest under each category of ownership in the last five years.

James Paice: holding answer 8 February 2011
	Spend on specific endangered species is not recorded separately but forms part of the wider spend on biodiversity. While all sustainable forest management can benefit biodiversity, the Forestry Commission has spent the money shown in the following table specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Spend on public forest estate  Spend per 100,000 hectares of public forest estate 
			 2005-06 3,673,847 1,423,972 
			 2006-07 4,785,114 1,854,695 
			 2007-08 3,871,339 1,500,519 
			 2008-09 4,456,223 1,727,218 
			 2009-10 4,787,026 1,855,436 
		
	
	We do not collect data on the money spent by private owners on biodiversity in their forests.

Forests

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of Forestry Commission land have been put up for sale in  (a) Northern Ireland,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales,  (d) England and  (e) Yorkshire and the Humber since 6 May 2010; and how many hectares have attracted offers from or been sold to (i) private buyers, (ii) community or charitable bodies and (iii) other public bodies.

James Paice: holding answer 8 February 2011
	Forestry is a devolved matter and sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the respective administrations. The Forestry Commission does not operate in Northern Ireland.
	In England the Forestry Commission phases its asset sales programme over the year and the decision on the exact date that properties are placed on the market is made in conjunction with its selling agents. These dates were not recorded by the commission until July 2010. Since this time 2,037 hectares of land have been placed on the market, with 1,631 hectares being sold to private buyers and 114 hectares to public bodies. There have been no sales to community or charitable bodies in this period. In Yorkshire and the Humber 157 hectares have been placed on the market since July 2010 and 100 hectares have been sold to private buyers between 6 May 2010 and 10 February 2011.
	The Forestry Commission does not record information on offers made to its agents prior to the final accepted offer. However, all of the remaining woodland from the 2010-11 sales programme is under various stages of completion. Of this, 170 hectares are "sale agreed" to community or charitable bodies and 969 hectares "sale agreed" to private buyers, including 194 hectares in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Forests

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the standing volume of wood supplies entering the market from the public forest estate in England was in each year since 1997; and what estimate the Forestry Commission has made of the volume to be sent to market in each of the next 10 years.

James Paice: holding answer 8 February 2011
	Timber production from the public forest estate in England by cubic metre overbark (i.e. the volume of wood including the bark) standing volume (as opposed to felled volume) from 1999 to 2000 is listed in the following table. The figures for earlier financial years are not available.
	Estimated volume for future years from the Forestry Commission's 2005 production forecast is 1,430,000 cubic metre overbark standing for each year from 2011-12 to 20015-16 and 1,403,000 cubic metre overbark standing each year from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
	
		
			   Volume( 1)  (m( 3) obs) 
			 1999-2000 1,650,000 
			 2000-01 1,468,000 
			 2001-02 1,435,000 
			 2002-03 1,472,000 
			 2003-04 1,538,000 
			 2004-05 1,536,000 
			 2005-06 1,510,000 
			 2006-07 1,489,000 
			 2007-08 1,491,000 
			 2008-09 1,392,000 
			 2009-10 1,560,000 
			 (1) Volume rounded to the nearest thousand (1,000). Volume measured in cubic metre overbark standing (m(3)obs).

Forests

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the sale of woodland leased to the Forestry Commission.

James Paice: Leasehold land managed by the Forestry Commission would be considered for disposal on a case by case basis in line with the selection criteria for the 2011-12 asset sales programme. All sales are currently on hold until after the independent panel, which will be appointed to examine forestry policy in England, has reported in the autumn.

Forests

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her proposed guarantee of continued certification of any woodland transferred from the public forest estate will be subject to the  (a) Forest Stewardship Council and  (b) programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been ended and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of established conifer plantations owned and managed by the Forestry Commission provide access opportunities for  (a) walkers,  (b) cyclists,  (c) equestrians and  (d) others.

James Paice: holding answer 14 February 2011
	The Forestry Commission does not record the provision of recreation facilities by tree species and age. Approximately, 160,000 hectares of the public forest estate benefit from access rights on foot through dedication under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. A further 26,000 hectares of access land in the New Forest predate the Act. The Forestry Commission estimates that over 163,000 hectares of the public forest estate have open, permit-free, access for horse riders. Cyclists are welcome on most of the areas where there is foot access and access for horse riders.

Forests

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of woodland or forest in  (a) England,  (b) Staffordshire and  (c) Stafford constituency were sold by (i) the Forestry Commission and (ii) other public bodies in each of the last 13 years.

James Paice: I have placed documents in the House Library detailing the area of land sold by the Forestry Commission since 1997 by calendar year from 1997 to 2002 and by date of sale from 2003 to 2010.
	DEFRA does not hold data on woodland or forest that was sold by other public bodies and we do not record sales by constituency.

Forests

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of ancient is used in her Department's consultation paper on forestry.

James Paice: The definition of ancient woodland used was
	"woodland which has been in continuous existence since 1600AD".
	This is the standard classification used for the National Inventory of Ancient Woodlands maintained by Natural England.
	The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to put in place arrangements to protect access rights to community woodland which is leased to the Forestry Commission under her proposals for the sale of the public forest estate.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision has been made in the consultation on the future of land operated by the Forestry Commission for respondents to state that they wish there to be no change in the current arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what protection is in place for the preservation of ancient woodland in her proposals for the disposal of the public forest estate;
	(2)  which areas of woodland in Sherwood constituency are affected by her Department's consultation paper on forestry.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many access permits have been granted in respect of  (a) ponies and traps and  (b) horses by the Forestry Commission for access to (i) Hurn Forest, (ii) Sopley and Avon Common and (iii) Ramsdown Plantation since January 2010.

James Paice: Permits issued by the Forestry Commission in Dorset are not limited to individual woodlands, but are for all the freehold public forest estate in the county. Since January 2010 the Forestry Commission has issued 23 access permits for ponies and traps and 125 permits for horse riding.

Forests: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, column 706W, on land: Christchurch, how the book value of woodland on the public forest estate in Christchurch constituency is calculated.

James Paice: Book values for the woodland on the public forest estate are assessed by external valuers who carry out a sample valuation of a range of woodlands within each of the Forestry Commission's forest districts. This is then used to give a single value per hectare valuation for the district. This hectare value is then applied to all woodland within that forest district.

Forests: Cycling

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on ensuring that approved cycling clubs and organisers retain present levels of access to land managed by the Forestry Commission in the event of any sale of such land; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: holding answer 11 February 2011
	The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests: North Yorkshire

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to designate  (a) Dalby,  (b) Cropton Forest and  (c) Kielder Forest as protected Heritage Forests.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Forests: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ancient woodland in Sherwood constituency is owned by the Forestry Commission.

James Paice: The public forest estate is owned by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967.
	There are two areas of ancient woodland, including restored plantation on ancient woodland sites, on the Forestry Commission public forest estate in Sherwood constituency. Cutts Wood is a 46 hectare block that is entirely ancient woodland. In addition, Birklands straddles the constituency boundary with 270 hectares of ancient woodland in the Sherwood constituency.

Forests: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that the Forestry Commission publishes its recent reports on specific woodlands in Sherwood constituency.

James Paice: The Forestry Commission holds many reports on a wide range of issues relating to the management of its woodland and collects detailed information on all its woods as part of the Forest Design Plan preparation process. These plans set out how the woods should develop over the next 30 years and include felling and regeneration plans. The Forest Design Plans for the woods the Forestry Commission manages in the Sherwood constituency, the background information, and most other reports, are available for inspection at the local Forestry Commission office at Edwinstowe.

Forests: Timber

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the  (a) volume of timber (i) of each species and (ii) from each forest in the public forest estate in the UK placed on the market in the latest period for which figures are available and  (b) average price achieved in each case.

James Paice: holding answer 15 February 2011
	 Forestry is a devolved matter and detailed records of timber production in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not held by DEFRA.
	Figures for the volume of hard and softwood timber sales and the average price these achieved were provided in the answer I gave on 15 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 704-05W. The Forestry Commission also compiles statistical information covering various aspects of forestry. This is published annually as Forestry Statistics and I will place a copy of Forestry Statistics 2010 in the Library of the House.

Forests: Trees

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects on the levels of disease among the tree population of the implementation of her proposals for the disposal of Forestry Commission land.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the information supplied to her under EC Regulation 1946/2003 by Oxitec prior to its transboundary shipment of genetically-modified mosquito eggs to  (a) the Cayman Islands,  (b) Malaysia,  (c) India,  (d) Brazil,  (e) Singapore,  (f) Thailand,  (g) USA and  (h) Vietnam.

James Paice: Exports of genetically modified organisms are only required to be notified to the UK Competent Authority under Regulation 1946/2003 if they are to be exported to a non-EU country for release into the environment. Exports of GMOs are not covered by this requirement if they are intended for contained use as was the case in respect of the shipment of mosquito eggs by Oxitec to Malaysia, India, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. Information on the export of GM mosquito eggs to the Cayman Islands for release to the environment has already been placed in the Libraries of the House in response to a Lords parliamentary question from the noble Lady, The Countess of Mar on 13 January 2011, Volume No. 723, Part No. 93.

Gun Sports

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the required conditions are for a cold weather ban on shooting; and what consultation takes place with representatives of shooting organisations in the event of such a ban.

James Paice: Under section 2(6) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) the Secretary of State can introduce an order in England initiating a period (outside of the close season) of special protection for any birds included in part II of schedule 1, or part 1 of schedule 2 of the Act. A prolonged period of severe winter weather may require such a period of special protection.
	The Meteorological Office records daily temperatures at a network of 22 meteorological stations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. On the 13th day of frozen conditions, if more than half of these meteorological stations are still reporting freezing conditions, a case is presented to the relevant Secretary of State requesting a suspension of waterfowl shooting due to the severe weather. Once the Statutory Instrument has been signed, it comes into force two days after the case was presented. Similar arrangements exist in Northern Ireland.
	Under section 2(7) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) before making an order under subsection (6) the Secretary of State must consult a representative of persons interested in the shooting of wildfowl proposed to be protected by the order. Under these arrangements in England, Scotland and Wales the British Association of Scooting and Conservation (BASC) is considered to be the organisation that is able to represent persons interested in the shooting of birds that would be protected by any order. In Northern Ireland both BASC, the Countryside Alliance-Ireland and the Scottish Association for Country Sports are all consulted, as representatives of the shooting and hunting community in Northern Ireland.

Hill Farming

Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken to support hill farmers.

James Paice: The Government set out their intention to develop affordable measures of support for hill farmers in DEFRA's Structural Reform Plan. We will be announcing our proposals on this shortly as part of the conclusions of a review of policy on the English uplands.

Industrial Health and Safety: South West

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse is of the Lower Axe area health and safety improvements to structures.

Richard Benyon: The Lower Axe Area 'Health and Safety Improvements to Structures' project is being promoted by the Lower Axe Internal Drainage Board. The total scheme cost is £285,000. The Internal Drainage Board has applied to the Environment Agency for flood defence grant in aid funding at a 45% grant rate (for £130,000).

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made on co-operation with the Irish government on monitoring pollution in the Irish Sea.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply.
	In November 2010, Ireland formally joined the BONN agreement, a joint agreement for co-operation in dealing with and monitoring oil pollution in the North sea and the Irish sea.
	UK and Ireland have agreed to formulate the UKIRE plan which will provide communication and response co-operation plans between our two countries. The UKIRE plan has a target for completion of May 2011.

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many pollution incidents involving discharges above 0.01 tonnes there have been in the Irish Sea since 28 July 2010; and what the  (a) date,  (b) size,  (c) name of the company reporting the incident and  (d) name of the company responsible for the incident was in each case;
	(2)  on what date each oil pollution incident in the Irish Sea occurred in each of the last 10 years; what quantity of oil was spilled in each case; and which company was responsible;
	(3)  what oil pollution incidents involving more than 0.01 tonnes of spillage there have been in the Irish Sea since 2007; on what dates each occurred; what the size of the spillage was; and which company  (a) reported and  (b) was responsible for each;
	(4)  how many oil pollution incidents there have been in the Irish Sea since March 2010; and what the  (a) date,  (b) size,  (c) name of the company reporting the incident and  (d) name of the company responsible for the incident was in each case.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply.
	Statistical details on oil spills are gathered and collated by the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea (ACOPS). ACOPS is an environmental non-government organisation which surveys reported discharges that can be attributed to vessels and offshore oil and gas installations operating in the United Kingdom Pollution Control Zone (UKPCZ).
	ACOPS produce annual reports although the work of gathering, collating and analysing the material takes about 15 months. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) anticipate that the report for 2009 will be published next month. This report will be available on the MCA's website, together with the reports for earlier years.
	The MCA generally only holds data on the source of the spill and does not routinely gather data about the company responsible for the oil spill.
	Data requested for 2010, can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) location and  (b) size is of each type of armament dump identified in the Irish Sea.

Peter Luff: I have been asked to reply.
	MOD information on sea dumped munitions in the British Isles, including the Irish Sea, has been placed in the public domain; it can be accessed at the following internet address:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/SSDCD/SustainableDevelopmentPolicy/DisposalofMunitionsAtSea.htm
	A copy of a list of publications available at the website address given has been placed in the Library of the House. The records show an historic munitions dump in the Irish Sea located in a region known as Beauforts Dyke as defined by Notice to Mariners No 4095 issued in 1945. Dumping of munitions ceased in 1973 when agreements were reached in the London and Oslo Conventions, with the exception of a small emergency dump in 1976.
	Just to the south of the Irish Sea; three small dump sites are also listed as being located off the south west Welsh coast near Milford Haven.

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many radioactive pollution incidents of each type in the Irish Sea have been recorded in each of the last 30 years.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply.
	No radioactive pollution incidents of each type in the Irish sea have been recorded in any of the last 30 years.

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the quantity of  (a) synthetic chemicals,  (b) mercury,  (c) cadmium,  (d) lead,  (e) zinc,  (f) nickel and  (g) arsenic released into the Irish Sea from establishments in the UK in each year since 2007; and what targets have been established for reducing the quantity of each released.

Richard Benyon: The estimated riverine and direct loads of cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc, lindane and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) released into the Irish sea from 2007-09 (based on an average of the upper and lower values reported) are provided in the following table. The figures include natural sources of the metals and anthropogenic releases from point and diffuse sources. Loads can vary considerably depending on the amount of rainfall in a particular area over the year.
	Consolidated information on UK loads of cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc, lindane and PCBs entering the marine environment from rivers and direct sources (sewage works and industrial discharges) in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is available centrally and reported to the OSPAR convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. We do not hold such information on loads of nickel and arsenic.
	
		
			   Tonne  kg 
			   Cadmium  Mercury  Lead  Zinc  Lindane (g-HCH)  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 
			 2007 2.13 0.36 73.34 441.03 22.47 33.07 
			 2008 2.18 0.40 53.41 375.23 28.55 35.97 
			 2009 4.06 0.48 111.50 491.81 24.57 31.77 
		
	
	Lead is designated as a priority substance under the water framework directive, and mercury, cadmium and lindane have been designated as priority hazardous substances (PHS). These substances are all subject to progressive reduction obligations under the directive. PHSs are subject to additional objectives with regard to stopping or phasing out discharges, emissions and losses.

Irish Sea: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 847-8W, what the  (a) date and  (b) location was of each category 1 and 2 pollution incident which had an effect on water in a catchment which flowed into the Irish Sea in 2010.

Richard Benyon: A copy of the data, provided by the Environment Agency, containing  (a) date and  (b) location of each category 1 and 2 pollution incidents which had an effect on water in a catchment which flowed into the Irish sea in 2010, has been placed in the Library.

Livestock: Animal Welfare

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish her Department's response to the report of the Advisory Group on Responsibility and Cost Sharing on livestock welfare.

James Paice: Ministers are considering the advisory group's recommendations carefully. An announcement will be made by April 2011 as set out in the Government's Structural Reform Plan.

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis her Department consulted the Duchy of Cornwall on the proposals for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; and whether any amendments were made to legislative proposals in consequence.

Richard Benyon: If a Bill's provisions affect the interests (hereditary revenues, personal property or other interests) of the Duchy of Cornwall, it is sometimes necessary to liaise with representatives of the Prince of Wales in order to obtain "Prince's Consent", as part of the parliamentary process.
	Since the provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 affect the interests of the Crown and the Duchy of Cornwall it was necessary to obtain both Queen's and Prince's Consent before the Bill was passed, and it was on this basis that the Department consulted representatives of the Duchy of Cornwall.
	No amendments were made to the Marine Bill as a consequence of this process.

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the proposals from the European Parliament for meat from animals slaughtered without stunning to be labelled as such; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: holding answer 17 February 2011
	The European Parliament proposal that meat from animals slaughtered without stunning should be labelled was made during the Parliament's First Reading consideration of the Commission proposal for a Food Information Regulation. In December, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council met to reach a political agreement on the Food Information Regulations but member states did not discuss the European Parliament's proposed amendment on method of slaughter labelling. As a result this proposal is not included in the common position that will be submitted to the European Parliament shortly.
	The European Parliament will undertake its Second Reading on the Food Information Regulation in the coming months in its Environment Committee and then in Plenary. If the amendment on welfare labelling is retained by the European Parliament in its Second Reading, the proposal will then go to Council for consideration.
	We believe people should know what they are buying in shops or when they are eating out, and I have had discussions with the supermarkets, the food and catering industries about the role labelling and point of sale information can play in giving consumers a greater choice. All agree this is a difficult, complex and sensitive issue that cannot easily be resolved in view of the many competing interests involved. We will be looking at this further but, will need to consider the impact of existing EU meat labelling Regulations, before any final decisions are taken.

Milk: EU Action

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the proposals of the EU Commission to enhance the collective bargaining power of dairy farmers in contractual arrangements made with purchasers of their milk.

James Paice: The Government agree that some rebalancing of negotiating power in the dairy sector could be welcome. Under the Commission proposals, milk producers could collaborate and set up producer organisations. This would be a good opportunity to enhance their bargaining power.
	As for the scale of negotiations between milk producers and processors, we would prefer to see measures based on providing greater clarity of existing competition law and what producers may do collectively, based on the concept of a relevant market, rather than the Commission's approach of exemption from competition law and limits based upon national milk production. This would improve producers' bargaining power within the existing law.
	With regard to written contracts, the Government agree with the Commission that member states should be free to decide whether to make them compulsory.

Mining: Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to compensate communities for the environmental impact of aggregate extraction.

Richard Benyon: The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) provided funding for local communities affected by aggregates extraction from 2002 until the end of March this year, when it will be discontinued. The decision was taken as part of the spending review settlement in October 2010, where we looked very carefully across all DEFRA's priorities to identify where we can make best use of the available funds.
	In 2011-12, we will fund a modest, short term project to help ensure that the findings from the £60 million already invested in ALSF Research and Development are accessible to those who can put them into practice, and to achieve the potential improvements in environmental performance. This will bring together material from numerous research reports and websites into a professional website tool run and maintained by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation.

Moorland Association

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of the Moorland Association.

James Paice: The Secretary of State has not met with the Moorland Association, but the Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon) met with their representatives on 2 November 2010.

New Forest

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on permitting the Forestry Commission to introduce car parking charges in the New Forest; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: holding answer 8 February 2011
	The introduction of car parking charges on the public forestry estate is an operational matter for the Forestry Commissioners.

Rivers: Water Supply

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency is taking to tackle over-abstraction from the river  (a) Dart,  (b) Teign,  (c) Yealme,  (d) Erme and  (e) other south Devon rivers; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency assesses the sustainability of water resources in England, including the Dart, Teign, Yealme, Erme and other south Devon rivers, to inform its future management of abstractions. Where over-abstraction has occurred, the Agency can take action through its Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme.
	The Environment Agency also carries out compliance visits, which are targeted at rivers where there is stress from potential over-abstraction, and analyses abstraction volumes to ensure levels remain within the limits agreed in a licence. Licence holders found to be in breach of their conditions can ultimately face legal action.

Rural Areas: Business

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural businesses her Department has assisted in Maidstone and the Weald constituency in each of the last five years; and how much has been spent on each business.

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the assistance which has been provided to rural businesses in the Maidstone and Weald constituency under DEFRA's rural development programmes over the last five years:
	
		
			   Scheme  Number of businesses assisted  Individual grant awards( 1)  (£) 
			 2006 ERDP(2) 3 909.75 
			3,083.25 
			175,195.20 
			 2007 ERDP 0 n/a 
			 2008 RDPE(3) 2 89,218.00 
			110,000.00 
			 2009 RDPE 2 474,051.60 
			1,475.00 
			 2010 RDPE 2 749,987.00 
			587.50 
			 (1) This is based on the total grant awarded to the project. In some cases it may be that the applicant has not yet claimed the full amount.  (2) England Rural Development Programme 2000-06.  (3) Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13.

Rural Areas: Business

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sources of  (a) Government and  (b) EU funding are available to (i) farmers, (ii) rural villages, (iii) rural businesses, (iv) local authorities, (v) parish councils and (vi) rural voluntary organisations to assist in the regeneration of rural economies.

Richard Benyon: Funding is available under DEFRA's Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) to improve the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry; improve the environment and the countryside; improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of economic activity. Applicants for RDPE funding can include farmers, rural businesses, rural community groups and voluntary organisations, all of which have already benefited from this funding. Farmers also benefit from funding under the single farm payment.
	Rural enterprise is also able to benefit from the advice and support provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills programmes, and considerable work has been done to ensure that the Regional Growth Fund will be accessible to rural (as well as urban) areas which are currently dependent on the public sector. This will help them make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity. Rural communities and rural voluntary groups can access relevant funding from both national and local government sources open to civil society bodies. In addition, DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government is currently supporting the town and parish council sector through funding to support community empowerment. Local authorities have, of course, recently been notified of their formula grant allocations for the coming financial year, and this funding is intended to enable them to meet the needs of all their residents, rural and urban.
	While the Government recognise that some of their funding can be beneficial for businesses and communities, they believe that the most serious barriers hindering economic development in both rural and urban areas are the top-down restrictions affecting planning, growth and local action. The Government are seeking to remove these barriers, for example through the provisions of the Localism Bill, in order to enable local authorities and empower communities to address their own locally- identified needs. The creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships will help with the drive to sustainable local growth, focusing on local economic priorities.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has undertaken any research on the effects of tributyl tin from the hulls of ships on the marine environment in the Irish Sea since 2003.

Richard Benyon: The Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), together with colleagues in the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland, and the Fisheries Research Services in Scotland, have carried out studies on the effects of tributyl tin (TBT) on dogwhelks in the seas around the UK, including the Irish sea. The results, based on surveys in 2004 and 2007, show that effects on reproduction (imposex) have continued to reduce compared with the results of earlier surveys. A further survey was started in 2010, but the results are not yet available.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library the latest dataset from the central database on marine pollution held by the Environment Agency.

Richard Benyon: A copy of the latest dataset from the Environment Agency's central database on marine pollution has been placed in the Library.

Special Areas of Conservation

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission since June 2010 on the evidence and advice contained within the submission of candidate Special Areas of Conservation to the Commission.

Richard Benyon: A package of candidate Special Areas of Conservation was put forward to the European Commission on 20 August 2010. This package of sites was identified to ensure that, together with further sites to be submitted before the end of 2012, the United Kingdom meets its obligations under article 4 of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). The European Commission has acknowledged the receipt of these sites but has not had discussions on them with DEFRA. The European Commission evaluates the proposals with assistance from the European Topic Centre and, if satisfied that they are acceptable, they will add the sites to the Community list of possible Sites of Community Importance to be adopted in accordance with article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive.

Squirrels

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is considering placing obligations on future owners, leaseholders or managers of woodland owned by the Forestry Commission to control the size of the grey squirrel population as part of its proposals for the sale of woodland.

James Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.

Steart Coastal Management Project

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse is of the Steart coastal management project.

Richard Benyon: The total indicative scheme costs for the Steart Peninsula flood management projects are estimated to be between £17 million and £20 million. Land acquisition accounts for £5 million to £7 million of this amount. Options for efficiencies will be considered as the proposal develops.

Sugar Beet

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the effects of recent weather conditions on the viability of the sugar beet industry.

James Paice: holding answer 7 February 2011
	 The severe weather this winter has had an impact on the sugar beet campaign and we are expecting UK sugar production to be around 50,000 tonnes less than was forecast. This is due not just to the freezing conditions of December, but also to the rapid thaw which occurred in January. These conditions were extreme and should not impact on the long-term viability of the sugar beet industry in the UK, the prospects for which I believe remain strong.
	I am aware that British Sugar and the NFU are working to ensure that losses to the industry are minimised and that they have agreed to examine together the lessons learned from the experiences of the current campaign.

Supermarkets: Competition

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set to establish a groceries code adjudicator to monitor and enforce the groceries supply code of practice.

James Paice: The establishment of a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will require primary legislation. The draft Bill to establish the GCA will be brought forward in the near future. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is leading on the Bill, with close co-operation from DEFRA.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account she has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development.

Richard Benyon: The refreshed Compact frames DEFRA's approach to working with civil society in general. In respect of policy development specifically the Compact stresses transparency, and working with civil society at the earliest possible stages. DEFRA officials are actively engaging with civil society in policy development and my Department is applying this approach across all key policy areas.
	Senior managers in DEFRA have received written briefing on the Compact and the importance of reflecting the letter and the spirit in their work. We are also embedding the Compact in DEFRA's 'policy cycle' training guidance-the policy cycle is the framework used to guide policy development in DEFRA.

Uplands: Game

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of  (a) the effectiveness of management of upland areas for game and  (b) its contribution to local economies.

James Paice: Game management can be important for the management of land through the provision of cover for wildlife, and through the creation and management of habitats such as woodland, grouse moors, beetle banks and hedgerows. 96% of grouse moor sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) are now in favourable or recovering condition, an increase from 51% in 2006. This is a reflection of moorland managers' awareness of the importance and sensitivity of upland biodiversity.
	Game management can also be important for the rural economy. While no specific assessment has been made of the contribution of game management to upland areas, shooting contributes in the region of £1.6 billion to the rural economy, and supports the equivalent of around 70,000 full-time jobs; much of this contribution will be in upland areas.

Water: Meters

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she has assessed the effects on each income decile of the population of the introduction of compulsory water metering;
	(2)  what her policy is on the introduction of compulsory water metering in England.

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the use of water meters.

Richard Benyon: The Government will set out their policy on metering in the Water White Paper which is due to be published this summer taking into account household affordability of bills.

Wild Ducks: Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences to cull ruddy ducks were issued in each of the last three years; and what estimate she has made of the number of ducks that were culled.

Richard Benyon: The programme to control ruddy ducks in the UK is delivered by a dedicated team from the Food and Environment Research Agency. In England, a licence for the culling of ruddy ducks was issued to the team by the licensing authority (Natural England) for each of the last three years (2008 to 2010) and a similar annual licence was issued by the Scottish Executive for the culling of birds in Scotland.
	A licence for culling ruddy ducks in Wales was issued in 2008 and 2009 by the Welsh Assembly Government acting as the licensing authority in Wales. The 2009 license in Wales expired in autumn 2010 and has been replaced by a General Licence under which any future culling in Wales will take place. No ruddy duck shooting, as part of the DEFRA eradication programme, has taken place in Northern Ireland.
	The total number of ruddy ducks confirmed shot in England, Scotland and Wales for each of the past three years is as follows:
	
		
			   Ruddy ducks 
			 2008 1,365 
			 2009 717 
			 2010 386

Wild Ducks: Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the ruddy duck cull.

Richard Benyon: The programme to control ruddy ducks in the UK has been delivered by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) as part of an EU LIFE funded project. During the course of the programme, the project manager has made regular reports that provide information regarding the effectiveness of the eradication programme and which are available on the FERA website.
	The reporting so far received indicates the ruddy duck population in the UK has been reduced from approximately 4,400 at the beginning of the programme in September 2005, to the most recent estimate of less than 120 birds. DEFRA considers therefore that the programme to date has been very effective.

Wild Ducks: Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to continue the ruddy duck cull until the population is eradicated.

Richard Benyon: The eradication programme in the UK is currently being delivered by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) as part of an EU LIFE co-funded project. This project comes to an end in March 2011 but DEFRA remains committed to continuing the eradication programme through to completion. The Department is currently finalising options for how the eradication work will be delivered following the close of the EU LIFE funded project.

DEFENCE

3M Health Care

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded to 3M Health Care and its subsidiaries since 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence contracts database records no central award of contracts to 3M Health Care since 2007-08, although we have made a few purchases from the company under our low-value purchasing arrangements.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on decompression of employees who had served in Afghanistan in each year since 2002.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 21 January 2011
	 This information is not held in the format requested. However, the costs incurred by British Forces Cyprus for personnel using Bloodhound Camp for decompression since 2005, when personnel first decompressed there when returning from Operation Telic in Iraq, are as follows:
	
		
			   Cost of decompression (£ million) 
			 2005-06 0.858 
			 2006-07 1.505 
			 2007-08 1.864 
			 2008-09 2.080 
			 2009-10 2.409 
			 2010-11 (1)2.413 
			 (1) Actual to date 
		
	
	The figures include the costs of infrastructure, IT, utilities, fuel and equipment support.
	Personnel that have been serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq have used Bloodhound Camp for decompression during this period, with the exception of financial year 2010-11. No personnel from Iraq decompressed in this period.
	Costs associated with the airbridge and troops' salaries have not been included as these are not directly attributable to decompression.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel  (a) in total and  (b) who have served in Afghanistan have been through decompression in each year since 2002.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 21 January 2011
	 The figures requested are available for Cyprus from 2005 when personnel first undertook decompression there when returning from Operation Telic in Iraq.
	
		
			   Herrick  Telic  Total 
			 2005 0 564 564 
			 2006 1,288 0 1,288 
			 2007 7,679 8,526 16,205 
			 2008 11,700 8,100 19,800 
			 2009 16,500 4,020 20,520 
			 2010 21,211 0 21,211 
			 Total 58,378 21,210 79,588

Air Force: Military Bases

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which RAF bases are designated as emergency landing sites for the US Space Shuttle;
	(2)  what agreement he has reached with the US Administration on emergency landings of the Space Shuttle; and what payment the US Administration is liable for under the agreement.

Nick Harvey: RAF Fairford is the only RAF base designated as an emergency landing site, also known as a launch abort site, for the US Space Shuttle.
	RAF Fairford is made available to the United States Visiting Forces. There is no separate agreement relating to its designation as a launch abort site for the US Space Shuttle and no separate arrangements exist for payment in this respect.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011,  Official Report, column 455W, on military bases, if he will list the occasions on which hon. Members have received briefings from the civilian and service personnel responsible for his Department's review of RAF bases.

Nick Harvey: My right hon. and learned Friend visited the Ministry of Defence on 18 January 2011, to discuss the future of RAF Leuchars. I am not aware of any other briefings to individual hon. Members from the civilian or service personnel on the departmental review. Local matters I know have been the subject of discussion between the bases concerned and their constituency hon. Members, which is part of the normal relationship Heads of Establishment are encouraged to maintain with their local elected representatives. Ministers have also addressed the review on numerous occasions in the House, in correspondence, through responses to written questions, and remain available to discuss these important matters with hon. Members should they wish to.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011,  Official Report, column 25W, on Air Force: military bases, at which RAF bases work classified as redevelopment was scheduled in his Department's annual planning round in 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The RAF bases at which work classified as redevelopment was scheduled in the Ministry of Defence's annual planning round in 2010 are:
	RAF Benson;
	RAF Boulmer;
	RAF Brampton/Wyton/Henlow;
	RAF Brize Norton;
	RAF Conningsby;
	RAF Cottesmore;
	RAF Cosford;
	RAF Cranwell;
	RAF Fylingdales;
	RAF Halton;
	RAF High Wycombe;
	RAF Honington;
	RAF Kinloss;
	RAF Leeming;
	RAF Leuchars;
	RAF Linton on Ouse;
	RAF Lossiemouth;
	RAF Lyneham;
	RAF Marham;
	RAF Northolt;
	RAF Odiham;
	RAF Shawbury;
	RAF Spadeadam;
	RAF St Mawgan;
	RAF Valley;
	RAF Waddington; and
	RAF Wittering.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011,  Official Report, column 382W, on the Air Force: military bases, to whom the annual land cost is payable in each case it is incurred.

Andrew Robathan: With the exception of the payment of £175,000 at RAF Lossiemouth for a ground lease for a combined medical centre to Primary Health Investment Properties, and payments at RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars to the Crown Estate, all other payments are to private landowners or businesses.

Air Force: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used to select the Royal Air Force trainee pilots to be made redundant.

Liam Fox: No decisions have been taken regarding redundancy for RAF trainee pilots. A decision has been taken to remove up to 170 RAF student pilots from the flying training pipeline. The criteria being used to select those trainee pilots to be removed from flying training will be a combination of the service need, officer qualities, ground based pilot aptitude testing, and flying performance to date.

Air Force: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 815-22W, on armed forces: redundancies, what proportion of the trainee Royal Air Force pilots to be made redundant have completed  (a) 0 to 10%,  (b) 10 to 20%,  (c) 20 to 30%,  (d) 30 to 40%,  (e) 40 to 50%,  (f) 50 to 60%,  (g) 60 to 70%,  (h) 70 to 80%,  (i) 80 to 90% and  (j) more than 90% of the flying hours required to complete their training.

Liam Fox: The selection process for re-streaming trainee pilots is not due to finish until mid-March. However, it is evident that the information that would be required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people living in  (a) Glasgow South West constituency,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK are in receipt of a (i) war pension and (ii) payment from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Andrew Robathan: The War Pension Scheme (WPS) provides no fault compensation to former service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from the start of the first world war in 1914 up until 5 April 2005.
	As at 30 September 2010, 320 individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 16,960 individuals in Scotland and 162,575 individuals in the UK were receiving a pension under the WPS.
	The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) was introduced on 6 April 2005 to provide compensation to service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from this date.
	As at 30 September 2010, no individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 50 individuals in Scotland and 485 individuals in the UK were receiving either Guaranteed Income Payments (GIP) or Survivor's Guaranteed Income Payments (SGIP) under the AFCS.
	As at 30 September 2010, less than five individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 440 individuals in Scotland and 6,980 individuals in the UK had received a lump sum payment to compensate for injury under the AFCS.
	 Notes:
	1. Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP)-regular payment to a service person to that provides a continuous income stream.
	2. Survivor's Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP)-regular payment to surviving dependant(s) that provides continuous financial support.
	3. In accordance with DASA's rounding policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest five and figures fewer than five have been suppressed.

Blue Force Property

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence Police on Blue Force Property and Blue Force Services.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence Police are aware that the Blue Forces property management company, based in Colchester, Essex, has ceased trading. They are considering whether a formal investigation is warranted. Ministers have not been involved.

Bomber Command: War Memorials

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of the lapse of the value added tax exemption for memorials on the proposed bomber command memorial; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no VAT zero-rate or exemption reliefs for the construction of memorials, but the Memorials Grant Scheme exists to make grants equivalent to the VAT incurred by registered charities on eligible works to establish or maintain memorials. The scheme was slightly narrowed in scope from 4 January 2011, to exclude the value of VAT on professional fees, but was otherwise preserved and has not lapsed as the question implies. Accordingly, no representations about lapse have been made to HM Treasury.

Bowman Combat Radio System

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the Bowman programme; and what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that programme.

Peter Luff: Bowman has proved its worth on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is significantly more capable than predecessor systems, providing secure communications, increasingly capable situational awareness and battle management capability. Reports from theatre and from pre- and post-operational visits to units indicate that Bowman equipment has been well received and is highly effective.
	The Ministry of Defence continues to upgrade the Bowman capability to reflect the advance of technology and the evolving needs of our people on operations. The current capability upgrade and obsolescence update will be used on operations in Afghanistan from spring 2011 and will be fully fielded by spring 2012.

Defence: Satellite Communications

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to increase the UK's unilateral access to satellite imagery for defence purposes.

Peter Luff: The current requirement for satellite imagery is met by a combination of commercial satellite imagery and interchange arrangements with allies. The Ministry of Defence currently has no plans for unilateral access to satellite imagery.

Departmental Pay

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was of staff on fixed-term  (a) appointments and  (b) contracts in (i) April 2010 and (ii) each subsequent month.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 20 December 2010
	The total cost of employment of the Ministry of Defence's fixed-term appointees, including part-timers, has been as follows:
	
		
			   Total cost of employment  (£ million) 
			  2010  
			 April 2.1 
			 May 2.1 
			 June 2.1 
			 July 1.8 
			 August 2.1 
			 September 1.9 
			 October 2.0 
			 November 2.0 
			 December 1.9 
		
	
	The figures include salary, taxable allowances paid with salary, performance awards (paid in August) and employer pension and national insurance costs.
	Information on staff employed under contract from agencies is not currently held centrally, but we are currently improving its accessibility in the interests of transparency. The most significant numbers of fixed-term appointees are employed in engineering and science and in training and education.
	The restrictions on external recruitment announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 May 2010 have constrained the employment of new fixed-term appointees and staff employed under contract from agencies, although we remain committed to the employment of apprentices to help grow the engineering skills we need for the future.
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying.

Departmental Pay

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual salary was of people on fixed-term contracts in his Department in  (a) April 2010 and  (b) each subsequent month.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 20 December 2010
	The average annual salary of the Ministry of Defence's fixed-term appointees, including those working part time, has been as follows:
	
		
			   Average annual salary (£) 
			  2010  
			 April 29,275 
			 May 29,008 
			 June 29,074 
			 July 28,510 
			 August 32,850 
			 September 27,918 
			 October 28,967 
			 November 29,196 
			 December 28,081 
		
	
	The figures include gross salary, any taxable allowances payable and the payment, in August, of annual performance awards. The most significant numbers of fixed-term appointees are employed in engineering and science and in training and education.
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has provided Barnett consequential funding to any of the devolved administrations in  (a) 2010-11 to date and  (b) each of the last three years.

Andrew Robathan: Defence is reserved to Her Majesty's Government for the benefit of the whole of the United Kingdom. There are not, and have never been, any Barnett consequentials to changes in the Defence budget.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: Since 6 May 2010, the Ministry of Defence has not revoked any regulatory measures. However, we are currently reviewing our secondary legislation in two areas. Firstly, regulations governing the Service Pensions Order (war pensions) and the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) are reviewed annually and updated where necessary. Additionally the AFCS will be re-made with amendments following the Review by Admiral the Lord Boyce. The statutory instrument giving effect to this will be laid on 28 February. Also being reviewed are existing Defence byelaws and other local instruments in relation to land occupied for Defence purposes.
	Although regulations made by the MOD rarely impact on business, our reviews are being conducted with a view to rationalise the regulatory burden within these policy areas.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department introduced between 19 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Andrew Robathan: Between 19 November 2010 and 8 February 2011, the Ministry of Defence made one new statutory instrument, namely the Armed Forces Redundancy Etc. Schemes 2010 (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2011/208). The order serves mainly to update the two redundancy compensation schemes for the regular armed forces, and formed part of our current review of the legislation governing the Service Pensions and Compensation Schemes. Additionally three new prerogative instruments were made on 15 December 2010 in which the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 1975) was updated for each of the services. The amendments covered matters such as providing that death benefits in respect of service personnel who die while holding acting rank are based upon that rank, regardless of how long the acting rank was held. AFPS 1975 is set out in an Order in Council for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, a Royal Warrant for the Army and a Queen's Order for the RAF.
	One other Order-in-Council relating to Defence matters was also made during this period. This was the Visiting Forces (Designation) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2970), which added Algeria to the existing list of those countries deemed to be Visiting Forces under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act 1952. This was required following the conclusion of a defence co-operation accord between the United Kingdom and Algeria in October 2009.

Departmental Security

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the reduction in size of his Department's Police Divisional Support Groups on his Department's ability to provide  (a) security and  (b) operational flexibility to its estate; whether any decisions have been taken on such reductions; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: A range of options for the Ministry of Defence's future requirement for civil policing services is currently under consideration. No final decisions have yet been taken.

Ex-servicemen

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number and proportion of veterans resident in each region.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is not held.

Ex-servicemen: Prison Sentences

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces veterans have served a prison sentence in a civilian prison in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the joint statement I made with the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt) on 15 September 2010,  Official Report, column 40WS, on the findings of a study by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) which estimated that 2,820 prisoners in prison in England and Wales had previously served in the armed forces. This equates to 3.5% of the prison population.
	With regards to how many veterans have served a prison sentence in each of the last five years, this information is not held in the format requested.

France: Military Alliances

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress he has made on bilateral defence co-operation with France; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Fox: We have taken a number of steps to implement the Defence and Security Co-operation treaty agreed with France on 2 November 2010.
	There have been regular bilateral discussions including between Defence Ministers, the National Security Advisor, Chief of Defence Staff and Vice Chief of Defence Staff and their counterparts. We have discussed co-operation in the areas of operations, equipment and capabilities and have agreed a set of common objectives for this calendar year.
	We will build on the existing close links between our armed forces in the coming months with a number of bilateral exercises with France aimed at increasing the levels of interoperability between our armed forces.
	We have also made progress on the second treaty relating to collaboration on hydro-dynamics. The planned Teutates Technology Development Centre, to be built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, and the Teutates Epure facility, to be built in Valduc, France, are now in the project concept phase. We expect they will be operational from 2015.

HMS Ark Royal

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any disposal arrangements for HMS Ark Royal have yet been made.

Peter Luff: No decisions have yet been made about the disposal arrangements for HMS Ark Royal. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend (Nick Harvey) on 8 February 2011,  Official Report, column 127W, to the hon. Member for Lewisham West and Penge (Jim Dowd).

Low Flying: Compensation

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments of compensation in respect of low flying have been made to recipients in  (a) Wales,  (b) England and  (c) Scotland in each of the last three years; and what the monetary value of each such payment was.

Nick Harvey: The number of payments of compensation (including legal costs) made in respect of military low flying aircraft to claimants in Wales, England and Scotland in each of the last three financial years is shown in the following table, together with the total amount of compensation paid. I will write to the hon. Member shortly giving details of the monetary value of each payment.
	
		
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			   Number of claims  Amount paid (£)  Number of claims  Amount paid (£)  Number of claims  Amount paid (£) 
			 Wales 33 73,662.41 14 68,890.29 10 25,583.39 
			 England 73 211,287.92 99 812,626.46 78 397,301.09 
			 Scotland 6 63,546.80 1 1,241.92 6 8,887.68 
		
	
	 Substantive answer from  Mr  Robathan to Hywel Williams:
	The Minister for the Armed Forces, Nick Harvey undertook to write to you in his reply to your question on 11 February 2011 (Official Report, columns 455-6W) about the number and value of compensation payments in regard to military low flying in Wales, England and Scotland in each of the last three years.
	Please find attached lists containing the detailed monetary values of each payment. I should clarify that the amounts given cover not just compensation but, where appropriate, associated legal, veterinary and other expert costs.
	
		
			  Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in Wales (including costs where appropriate) 
			  £ 
			   Financial year 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 1 4,678.00 2,470.00 8,422.85 
			 2 1,525.00 1,284.88 1,225.00 
			 3 3,746.13 5,967.60 5,335.00 
			 4 4,511.85 17,535.00 375.00 
			 5 3,330.00 2,034.20 534.50 
			 6 4,215.20 2,847.04 1,989.52 
			 7 950.00 3,369.50 2,745.26 
			 8 900.00 28,259.13 120.00 
			 9 1,336.07 552.16 205.06 
			 10 592.00 950.00 4,631.20 
			 11 2,350.30 1,950.00 - 
			 12 292.00 1,435.73 - 
			 13 250.00 91.05 - 
			 14 1,745.00 144.00 - 
			 15 2,523.16 - - 
			 16 1,021.56 - - 
			 17 7,000.00 - - 
			 18 1,083.59 - - 
			 19 1,938.75 - - 
			 20 2,000.00 - - 
			 21 4,987.90 - - 
			 22 1,291.00 - - 
			 23 10,455.50 - - 
			 24 1,570.00 - - 
			 25 450.00 - - 
			 26 300.00 - - 
			 27 677.00 - - 
			 28 975.00 - - 
			 29 2,800.00 - - 
			 30 1,426.40 - - 
			 31 1,696.00 - - 
			 32 575.00 - - 
			 33 470.00 - - 
			  73,662.41 68,890.29 25,583.39 
		
	
	
		
			  Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in England (including costs where appropriate) 
			   Financial year 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 1 180.00 363.41 845.81 
			 2 150.00 11,740.63 5,513.80 
			 3 20,966.26 3,450.00 287.50 
			 4 1,495.00 600.00 574.00 
			 5 3,049.50 4,117.50 1,507.96 
			 6 186.06 3,626.06 1,977.84 
			 7 605.13 526.50 98,339.54 
			 8 841.07 45.00 291.74 
			 9 443.68 925.43 570.40 
			 10 291.50 3,590.58 588.40 
			 11 5,740.25 12,443.14 987.50 
			 12 232.55 124.00 1,265.53 
			 13 1,239.80 1,000.00 2,531.21 
			 14 2,322.50 328.51 450.00 
			 15 3,092.03 223.25 180.00 
			 16 6,000.00 4,738.95 1,064.00 
			 17 254.75 45,337.26 2,500.00 
			 18 1,500.00 746.55 4,531.00 
			 19 392.54 3,699.22 337.00 
			 20 1,095.62 224.00 97.52 
			 21 146.99 70.00 1,130.00 
			 22 4,692.00 95.00 237.50 
			 23 484.97 1,485.39 180.00 
			 24 985.00 4,920.70 1,361.14 
			 25 2,699.25 1,100.69 394.00 
			 26 527.06 6,642.50 180.00 
			 27 405.38 3,761.13 350.00 
			 28 1,000.00 8,230.85 2,089.13 
			 29 48.00 8,065.00 281.68 
			 30 2,484.08 2,000.00 72.00 
			 31 5,249.06 214.13 12,300.00 
			 32 5,329.69 117,385.88 433.62 
			 33 1,539.51 1,648.70 38,270.00 
			 34 10,860.00 1,304.03 22,759.63 
			 35 1,200.00 750.78 1,186.88 
			 36 150.00 362.50 309.00 
			 37 408.74 2,200.00 2,258.34 
			 38 680.40 4,171.25 1,497.75 
			 39 2,793.13 100.00 450.00 
			 40 98.58 126.00 493.50 
			 41 1,812.00 1,981.57 4,891.66 
			 42 62.11 587.50 43,949.80 
			 43 4,490.50 1,647.90 149.00 
			 44 120.67 29,728.70 1,500.00 
			 45 8,050.00 10,896.68 11,000.00 
			 46 2,240.00 16,420.03 649.50 
			 47 5,100.00 3,500.00 2,086.25 
			 48 166.09 148.05 4,837.50 
			 49 2,098.72 52,111.80 647.00 
			 50 447.36 1,386.00 2,488.50 
			 51 275.00 1,147.00 350.00 
			 52 1,146.64 312.49 673.90 
			 53 5,228.99 90.00 777.82 
			 54 120.00 900.00 1,259.25 
			 55 3,696.03 970.04 2,750.00 
			 56 3,775.91 3,216.80 466.08 
			 57 189.50 1,122.50 8,720.25 
			 58 8,265.12 1,057.50 545.00 
			 59 19,551.00 411.09 595.35 
			 60 3,256.15 1,768.41 10,295.61 
			 61 350.00 800.00 148.58 
			 62 1,539.61 18,181.31 750.00 
			 63 2,588.13 1,172.99 6,416.21 
			 64 3,525.00 275.00 2,625.00 
			 65 2,150.00 1,658.00 4,546.25 
			 66 1,645.00 3,995.00 27,750.00 
			 67 544.00 1,004.25 17,000.00 
			 68 22,526.00 1,500.00 12,777.00 
			 69 288.46 428.88 1,750.26 
			 70 110.00 150.00 237.50 
			 71 10,973.44 217.50 537.50 
			 72 2,546.41 2,449.00 240.00 
			 73 550.00 662.50 8,170.00 
			 74 - 3,028.56 583.50 
			 75 - 550.60 1,138.50 
			 76 - 150.00 2,928.40 
			 77 - 1,277.59 345.00 
			 78 - 327,500.00 50.00 
			 79 - 180.44 - 
			 80 - 729.30 - 
			 81 - 12,704.13 - 
			 82 - 1,000.00 - 
			 83 - 5,505.00 - 
			 84 - 1,104.55 - 
			 85 - 3,920.00 - 
			 86 - 7,988.44 - 
			 87 - 409.66 - 
			 88 - 653.17 - 
			 89 - 8,049.81 - 
			 90 - 1,702.00 - 
			 91 - 1,628.52 - 
			 92 - 164.16 - 
			 93 - 82.99 - 
			 94 - 790.63 - 
			 95 - 370.00 - 
			 96 - 110.00 - 
			 97 - 4,415.80 - 
			 98 - 3,890.00 - 
			 99 - 338.10 - 
			  211,287.92 812,626.46 397,301.09 
		
	
	
		
			  Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in Scotland (including costs where appropriate) 
			  £ 
			   Financial year 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 1 38,935.82 1,241.92 1,674.81 
			 2 1,562.75 - 1,983.39 
			 3 1,500.00 - 744.97 
			 4 16,287.63 - 1,591.42 
			 5 460.60 - 2,800.00 
			 6 4,800.00 - 93.09 
			  63,546.80 1,241.92 8,887.68

Military Aid

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formal engagement his Department and the armed forces have with their counterparts in  (a) Egypt,  (b) Bahrain and  (c) Indonesia.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence has programmes of engagement with Egypt, Bahrain and Indonesia that aim to enhance bilateral relationships and support the UK Government's wider foreign policy goals. They consist of a wide range of activities including, but not limited to:
	providing places on defence education and training courses in the UK (such as the Army, RAF and Navy junior officer training and the joint services advanced command and staff course);
	the deployment of UK personnel in support of joint exercises and military advisory teams;
	the deployment of short term training teams to deliver subject specific training in country;
	advisory visits, defence staff talks and senior leadership engagement either in the UK or in country.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the details of individual programmes as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the UK and other states.

MRSA: Screening

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to allow the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's product BacLite, for screening against the MRSA bacterium, to be marketed in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's product BacLite for the detection of the MRSA bacterium; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: Due to legal proceedings, I am limited in what I can say.
	Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) originally developed a technology for the rapid detection of bacteria, which was then made available to Acolyte under licence. Acolyte, with external venture capital, looked to exploit this technology for the detection of the MRSA bacterium in the civilian sector via the BacLite product. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made any assessment of the BacLite product with respect to its MRSA detection capability.
	Following the liquidation of Acolyte in October 2009, the original intellectual property rights underpinning the failed BacLite product reverted to the ownership of Dstl. As the development of a product to detect MRSA is not part of the Department's core business, we have no intention to resurrect the BacLite product for such purposes.

Nuclear Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which  (a) locations and  (b) facilities the planned deferral of £1 billion from future spending on infrastructure for the Trident replacement programme announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be made.

Liam Fox: The £1 billion deferral of expenditure on infrastructure, including the Command and Control elements in the nuclear firing chain, refers principally to previously expected spend on facilities at HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport. However, planning is not yet at the stage when more details could be provided.

Nuclear Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department budgeted for the Trident replacement concept phase at its outset, including on submarine design, propulsion and the common missile compartment; and how much has been spent on that phase to date.

Liam Fox: The 2006 White Paper "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" (cmd 6994) gave a broad estimate of between £11 billion and £14 billion at 2006-07 prices for a four boat fleet.
	The forecast cost and relevant approval dates of the elements of the concept phase are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Date  Value (£ million) 
			 Boat and Propulsion Concept work May 2007 309 
			 Common Missile Compartment October 2008 283 
			 United States High Steam Generators and technology April 2009 59 
			 Extension to Concept Phase November 2009 254 
			 Total  905 
		
	
	Figures in the table are given to the nearest million.
	Of this forecast total, £687 million had been spent to the end of January 2011.
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review identified a total of £1.2 billion of savings and £2 billion of deferrals within the nuclear programme over the next 10 years. These savings are attributable to submarine production, the nuclear warhead, supporting infrastructure and improved efficiency at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Nuclear Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much his Department has allocated to spend on the Trident replacement programme in the assessment phase prior to main gate;
	(2)  what the projected cost to the public purse is of long-lead items for purchase ahead of the Trident replacement main gate decision.

Liam Fox: The programme to replace the Vanguard class has still to enter the assessment phase. The initial gate business case for the assessment phase of the programme is currently being reviewed. It is not possible to confirm the value of long-lead items or assessment phase provision before the assessment phase programme has been approved. Moreover, we do not routinely publish figures for anticipated project expenditure, as to do so would prejudice commercial interests.

RAF Welford

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse is of the security enhancement to the US base at RAF Welford; and from which budget such expenditure was drawn.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 225-26W.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unmanned aerial vehicles comply with the Rules of the Air (R307) in non-segregated airspace.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not operate unmanned aerial vehicles in non-segregated airspace.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what procedures are in place for aborting the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles in  (a) UK non-segregated airspace,  (b) UK segregated airspace and  (c) UK Danger Areas;
	(2)  how many flights by an unmanned aerial vehicle have taken place in  (a) UK non-segregated airspace,  (b) UK segregated airspace and  (c) UK Danger Areas in each of the last three years;
	(3)  which unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with  (a) an approved Sense and Avoid capability and  (b) a Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode S transponder;
	(4)  which types of unmanned aerial vehicles can fly in each classification of UK airspace;
	(5)  what procedures are in place to deal with loss of control of an unmanned aerial vehicle in  (a) UK non-segregated airspace,  (b) UK segregated airspace and  (c) UK Danger Areas.

Peter Luff: Within the UK, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) procured by the Ministry of Defence operate only in segregated airspace, specifically restricted airspace (temporary), and in danger areas.
	The pilots of MOD procured UAVs comply with the Military Aviation Authority's Military Aviation Regulatory Document Set. Should a flight be aborted, standard operating procedures applicable to each UAV type allow a safe recovery, either to an established airfield or to a pre-selected emergency recovery site. In the event of a loss of the control link between the ground station and the aircraft, a UAV will revert to a pre-programmed emergency flight plan and fly to an established airfield where operators will attempt to regain the control link or, failing that, continue to a pre-selected emergency recovery site where it will automatically land. The flight-paths of UAVs operating in UK segregated airspace and danger areas are designed to minimise or eliminate the overflight of populated areas, thus mitigating risk to third parties to the absolute minimum.
	The following table provides details of MOD procured UAV flights in UK segregated (i.e. restricted) airspace and in danger areas, in each of the last three financial years.
	
		
			Financial year 
			  UAV  Type of airspace  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 (to date) 
			 Watchkeeper Segregated 0 0 13 
			  Danger area 0 0 1 
			  
			 Desert Hawk III Segregated 0 0 0 
			  Danger area 0 174 100 
		
	
	No MOD procured UAVs are equipped with an approved sense and avoid capability. The Watchkeeper UAV, which is not yet in-service, is fitted with a Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode S Transponder. No other MOD procured UAV has this capability.

USA: Military Bases

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for bearing the cost of each development on a US base in the UK.

Andrew Robathan: The US forces use land and buildings in the UK in accordance with the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty-Agreement regarding the Status of Forces of Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (UK ratification 13 May 1945) and the Cost Sharing Arrangement (CSA) (1973).
	The US authorities are responsible for bearing the cost of any development, unless that development is a requirement of UK legislation or Ministry of Defence policy and there is no equivalent United States legal or policy requirement, in which case the costs fall to the Department.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy ships are deployed on operations at sea; where each is deployed; and what the purpose is of each such deployment.

Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy ships deployed on operations, their mission and where they are deployed as at 16 February 2011 are as follows:
	 Op Telic
	Maintenance of integrity and security of Iraqi Territorial Seas.
	HMS Iron Duke
	HMS Chiddingfold
	HMS Grimsby
	HMS Pembroke
	HMS Middleton
	RFA Lyme Bay
	 Arabian Gulf Tanker
	Replenishment of coalition units in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and North Indian Ocean.
	RFA Bay leaf
	 Op Calash
	Counter Piracy and counter smuggling operations within the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and North Indian Ocean.
	HMS Cornwall
	RFA Diligence
	RFA Fort Victoria
	 Op Atalanta
	NATO Counter Piracy and counter smuggling operations within the Arabian sea, Gulf of Aden, and North Indian Ocean.
	HMS Richmond
	 Gibraltar Patrol
	The Security of Gibraltar Territorial Seas.
	HMS Sabre
	HMS Scimitar
	 Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Maritime Group 1
	A continuous maritime capability for mine-countermeasures integration within NATO Response Force (NRF) operations, non NRF operations and other activities in peacetime and periods of crisis and conflict.
	HMS Brocklesby
	 Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North)
	UK's maritime contribution to the Caribbean and North Atlantic area. Protection of UK interests, humanitarian role in response to the natural disasters, especially hurricanes, which are prevalent in this region.
	RFA Wave Ruler
	 Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South)
	The standing naval commitment to the South Atlantic and West African regions. Provide a maritime presence to protect the British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and UK's interests in the region.
	HMS Gloucester
	RFA Black Rover
	 Falkland Island Patrol Ship
	Permanently stationed in the region, responsible for maintaining British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
	HMS Clyde
	 Fishery Protection
	Patrolling UK's extended Fisheries Zone.
	HMS Tyne
	HMS Severn
	HMS Mersey
	 Survey Operations
	Survey operations throughout the world using the latest techniques to provide information for Admiralty charts and nautical publications and in particular updating the charts covering the waters around the United Kingdom.
	HMS Enterprise-Gulf
	HMS Echo-Gulf
	HMS Scott-Falklands/South Atlantic
	 UK Contingency Operations
	Royal Navy Maritime Security units at readiness to react to any possible threat to the integrity of UK Territorial Seas and security of the UK.
	HMS Westminster
	HMS Campbeltown
	HMS Portland
	HMS Ramsey
	HMS Hurworth

World War II: Military Decorations

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 661W, if he will bring forward proposals to award those who served in Bomber Command during the Second World War with a campaign medal; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Coalition undertook in its programme for government to review the rules governing the award of medals for the armed forces. This review has considered campaigns by veterans and other interested parties for new awards, including the campaign to institute a medal for service in Bomber Command during world war two. The review recently reported its findings to Defence Ministers and is now with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for their consideration.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to respond to question  (a) 36375 and  (b) 36579, on defence equipment, tabled on 24 January for named day answer on 27 January.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 917-18W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anorexia: Internet

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take in relation to websites that promote attitudes that encourage the development of anorexia in children and young people.

James Brokenshire: Keeping children safe is a priority for this Government and, while the internet is a valuable resource, it is important that we protect our children and young people. Through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), we will continue to work with the internet industry and charities to restrict exposure to harmful or inappropriate material. UKCCIS is also working to ensure that vulnerable young people are signposted towards trusted sources of information, such as the charity b-eat or NHS Choices, where they can get help and support when looking for such information, and are creating appropriate and intelligent moderation practices so that when discussions of such a nature are initiated they are appropriately moderated.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were granted in Coventry in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010; and what the most common reason for granting an ASBO was in this period.

James Brokenshire: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available to courts in England and Wales from 1 April 1999 and data on orders issued are compiled at Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. The latest published data on ASBOs cover the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2009.
	In 2009, 119 ASBOs were issued in the west midlands CJS area, which includes Coventry. ASBO data covering the period to the end of 2010 are planned for publication on 13 October 2011.
	The specific nature of the antisocial behaviour which led to the ASBO being issued is not centrally recorded by the Ministry of Justice and would need to be ascertained by reference to individual court files, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Association of Chief Police Officers: Freedom of Information

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011,  Official Report, column 664W, on police: freedom of information, for what reasons the Association of Chief Police Officers will not be brought within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with immediate effect.

Nick Herbert: The Government have said that they plan to bring the Association of Chief Police Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. This requires an order to be laid before Parliament designating the Association of Chief Police Officers as a public authority for the purposes of the Act. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), intends to introduce this order in the spring, to commence as soon as practicable.

Cabinet Office: Internet

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations she has received from members of the public via the Your Freedom website; and how many such representations were for legislative provisions which were subsequently included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill.

James Brokenshire: There were 15,238 individual ideas submitted to the Your Freedom website between 1 July and 10 September 2010.
	A large number of the provisions in the Protection of Freedoms Bill were addressed in some way by contributors to the website. Among the many issues raised and subsequently addressed in the Bill were:
	the retention of DNA profiles and fingerprints (chapter 1 of part 1 of the Bill);
	the fingerprinting of children in schools (chapter 2 of part 1);
	the regulation of CCTV (chapter 1 of part 2);
	the use of RIPA powers by local authorities (chapter 2 of part 2);
	limiting powers of entry (chapter 1 of part 3);
	tackling rogue wheel clamping (chapter 2 of part 3);
	introducing safeguards against the misuse of counter-terrorism legislation, including in relation to pre-charge detention and stop and search powers (part 4);
	reform of the Vetting and Barring Scheme and criminal records regime (chapters 1 and 2 of part 5);
	the disclosure of decriminalised convictions for consensual gay sex (chapter 3 of part 5);
	the provision of datasets in a reusable format (clause 92); and
	removal of the restrictions on times for marriages (clause 100).

Cannabis: Misuse

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the levels of long-term usage of cannabis; what drug classification has been applied to cannabis in each of the last 30 years; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Cannabis has been controlled as a Class B drug under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for most of the past 30 years. Its classification was downgraded to Class C in January 2004. In January 2009 it was reclassified to Class B.
	Estimates on the prevalence of cannabis use are provided in the annual Drug Misuse Declared publication that covers the extent and trends in illicit drug use among 16 to 59-year-olds in England and Wales, which is based on British Crime Survey (BCS) data on self-reported drug use in the last year. The report is published at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/surveydrugstats.html
	In April 2009, questions were introduced into the BCS to ask respondents the age at which they first took cannabis. With the inclusion of questions from April 2010 to ask respondents the age at which they last took the drug, the BCS will be able to provide some estimates for use of cannabis over time.

Counter-terrorism: Plea Bargaining

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will institute a review of the use of plea bargaining arrangements in counter-terrorism cases; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 14 February 2011
	 As set out in the findings from the review of counter-terrorism and security powers, which the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced to Parliament on 26 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 306-26 and are available on the Home Office website:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/counter-terrorism/review-of-ct-security-powers/
	The Government are taking forward work to increase the evidence and intelligence dividend from defendants and prisoners in terrorism cases. Sections 71-74 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 give a statutory basis for defendants and prisoners to provide evidence and intelligence which may assist the prosecution in return for immunity from prosecution or a possible reduction in sentence. The Government are looking at ways in which the use of these provisions in terrorism cases to support our prosecution efforts can be increased. Given different judicial systems this will be different from the US-style 'plea bargaining'.

Crime

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of police authorities on the effects of funding allocations on the capacity of specialist units; and if she will commission a report to assess the capacity available to police forces to investigate and bring to justice people charged with committing rape, murder, people trafficking or money laundering.

Nick Herbert: Both the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and I have had a range of meetings with chief constables, representatives of police authorities and others to discuss aspects of the police settlement and individual force allocations.
	The investigation of all criminal offences is an operational matter for the police service. It is for chief constables in consultation with police authorities to make decisions on the deployment of police officers within the available resource. The Government believe that the settlement for the police is fair and manageable and, if savings are made in the right areas, the service to the public can be maintained and even improved.
	Tackling trafficking is core police business. Tactical advice for police forces engaged in investigations into human trafficking is provided by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC), part of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Funding has also been provided for police led multi-agency Regional Asset Recovery Teams which provide specialist capability across the country to tackle criminal finances including money laundering.

Crime

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of  (a) long-term crime rates and  (b) long-term fear of crime rates.

James Brokenshire: There are two main sources of official statistics on crime in England and Wales; police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey (BCS). Long-term crime rates from both sources have been published in the annual statistical bulletin 'Crime in England and Wales 2009-10' (Tables 2.03 and 2.07), a copy of which is available in the House Libraries.
	It is difficult to make a general assessment of long-term crime rates because while the BCS has employed a consistent methodology over time it does not cover all crimes and the police recorded crime series has been subject to a number of changes in public reporting and police recording practices over time.
	The BCS has included some questions related to specific aspects of fear of crime and trends have also been published in 'Crime in England and Wales 2009-10' (Tables 5.07).

Criminal Records Bureau

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to transferring the work of the Criminal Records Bureau to the private sector.

Lynne Featherstone: The reports into the Vetting and Barring Scheme Review and Phase 1 of the Criminal Records Review, published on 11 February, made a number of recommendations in relation to the work of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). As a result the Government are retaining and building upon the disclosure service provided by the CRB.
	The changes resulting from these recommendations will create a more convenient and proportionate system for both employers and voluntary organisations and for people seeking to work or volunteer with children and vulnerable adults.
	I can confirm that there are no current plans to privatise the work of the CRB.

Domestic Violence

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) women and  (b) men were (i) arrested for and (ii) convicted of offences of domestic violence in the last three years for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: Information on the number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident from 2007-08 to 2008-09 and the number of convictions of domestic violence offences from 2007-08 to 2009-10 are given in the table.
	Statistics on domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident ceased to be collected from 2009-10.
	Data on the gender of domestic violence offenders are not available centrally.
	
		
			  Arrests and convictions for domestic violence offences in England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2009-10 
			   Number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident  Number of convictions for domestic violence offences( 1) 
			 2007-08 215,298 43,977 
			 2008-09 218,687 48,465 
			 2009-10(2) - 53,347 
			 (1) Convictions data are provided by the Crown Prosecution Service.  (2) Data on the number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident are not collected from 2009-10.

Driving: Health

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are open to the police to take immediate action to prevent a motorist from driving in situations where a person's age or infirmity gives concern as to their competence to drive; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The police have no general power to take immediate action to prevent a person driving in the situation described. If, however, a check of the Police National Computer shows that a driver's licence has been revoked because of a medical condition, including a condition related to age or infirmity, the police have the power to seize the driver's vehicle to prevent it from being driven. In addition, the police can require a driver to undertake an eyesight test. If the test is failed, the police will notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which will conduct the necessary inquiries which may lead to licence revocation.

Drugs: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the effects of trends in youth unemployment on future levels of cocaine use.

James Brokenshire: The Government's Drug Strategy published in December makes it clear that we intend to create an environment where the vast majority of people who have never taken drugs continue to resist any pressure to do so. This is key to reducing the huge societal costs, particularly the lost ambition and potential of young drug users.
	The ambitions of the Drug Strategy are cross departmental. Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions are already closely involved in the oversight of delivery and discussions on the implementation of the new strategy.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to establish a maximum fine for an offence of unintentional interception greater than that proposed in her consultation on amendments to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Nick Herbert: The appropriate maximum monetary penalty for unintentional unlawful interception is being considered in the light of the consultation responses and will be set out in new regulations.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the merits of introducing mandatory breach notifications to inform individuals when their communications have been intercepted intentionally or unintentionally without consent.

Nick Herbert: The Government will be bringing forward legislation to provide for a sanction for unlawful interception that is carried out unintentionally. This will include the mechanism by which the sanction will be administered by the interception of communications commissioner, and guidance will be issued on the handling of complaints and the publication of decisions made by the commissioner.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to ensure the transparency of the work of the Interception of Communications Commissioner in relation to private sector interception.

Nick Herbert: The Government will be bringing forward legislation that will provide for the administration of a new sanction for unlawful interception that is carried out unintentionally. The regulations will set out how the sanction will operate and it is our intention that the office of the interception of communications commissioner will issue guidance in relation to the administration of the sanction.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to demonstrate the independence of the Interception of Communications Commissioner under her proposals to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Nick Herbert: The commissioner, who holds or must have held high judicial office, is appointed by the Prime Minister under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. He is independent and not part of the Executive and has a number of reporting duties and powers including making an annual report to the Prime Minister on the carrying out of his functions. The report is laid before Parliament.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the potential for duplication of investigation functions between the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner.

Nick Herbert: The offices of the Information Commissioner and the interception of communications commissioner perform separate and distinct oversight functions, and their respective responsibilities are set out clearly in the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. In the Government's view, there are no duplication of investigative functions.

Electronic Surveillance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her proposals to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 include the creation of a commissioner to investigate intentional illegal interception.

Nick Herbert: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides for an offence of unlawful interception. The police are responsible for investigating cases where a person is suspected of intercepting communications intentionally and without lawful authority. The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting such cases, subject to the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Forensic Science Service

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of ACPO on the effects of the proposed closure of the Forensic Science Service on crime investigation.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is in regular dialogue with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on the operational transition of services, which is being co-ordinated by a national ACPO and National Policing Improvement Agency team. ACPO has been clear that the forensics market can cope with the managed wind-down of the Forensic Science Service (FSS).
	The continued provision of effective forensics is a priority and the Home Office is therefore supporting the wind-down process. This includes the necessary financial support so that FSS can maintain services to the Criminal Justice System (CJS) where there is an operational need, while transition arrangements are put in place.

Harassment

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have reported being stalked or harassed to the police in England and Wales in each year since 1998.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not available centrally. The Home Office collects statistics on offences recorded by the police rather than those reported to them. However, it is not possible to identify centrally the sex of the victim for recorded offences of stalking or harassment.
	The Government are committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, including stalking, and published its vision and guiding principles in this area on 25 November 2010. A detailed range of supporting actions, including those on tackling stalking, will be published in the spring.

Human Trafficking: Children

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on tackling organised gangs involved in trafficking children into the UK in the last 12 months.

Damian Green: Human trafficking is a horrendous crime and a very serious offence and this Government are strongly committed to tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery.
	Combating human trafficking is a core part of local operational policing. Recent success in this area has included the work of Operation Golf, a joint investigation of child trafficking between the Metropolitan Police Service and the Romanian National Police, which resulted in a significant number of criminals arrested and trafficked children safeguarded.
	The Government are currently working on a new human trafficking strategy which will have as one of their aims a greater focus on identifying and disrupting organised criminal networks involved in human trafficking.

Human Trafficking: Football

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of  (a) the Football Association and  (b) FIFA on the trafficking of minors into Europe from Africa by football agents.

James Brokenshire: There have been no discussions with either the Football Association or FIFA on this matter.

Immigration

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on measures to break links between temporary immigration routes and permanent settlement.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 134-135W, in response to his earlier question.
	Information on forthcoming changes to the rules for acquiring settlement may be found in a Statement of Intent on proposed changes to the operation of Tier 2 of the points based system and the requirements for indefinite leave to remain which was published on 16 February 2011 and is available on the UK Border Agency website.

Licensing Laws

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on reform of late-night licensing laws.

James Brokenshire: The Government intend to implement a late night levy which is set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill currently before the House. The levy is an optional power for licensing authorities to charge businesses who sell alcohol late at night. The money raised will contribute to the costs incurred by the police and other services in keeping the late night economy a safe place to do business.
	Additionally, the proposals in the Bill will give a discretionary power to licensing authorities to make an early morning restriction order to prevent the sale of alcohol during any specified period between 12 am and 6 am in a particular part, or all, of the local area where a concentration of licensed premises is contributing to crime and disorder and other problems late at night.

Missing People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were reported as missing in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those reported as missing have subsequently been found.

James Brokenshire: A Code of Practice for the collection of Missing Persons data was introduced in April 2009. While data are available for 2009-10, staged implementation of the Code of Practice means that some police forces have not yet been able to provide the required data. The figures provided are therefore likely to be an underestimate of the total number of persons reported as missing.
	In 2009-10, 231,158 incidents of missing persons were reported to the Missing Persons Bureau by police forces in England and Wales. Some of these incidents will relate to individuals who have been reported missing more than once.
	The figures are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
	The proportion of individuals reported as missing who have subsequently been found is not held centrally.

Missing People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent co-operation there has been with police forces in  (a) Europe and  (b) the US to determine whether people who are reported as missing are in those countries.

James Brokenshire: This is a matter for the individual police force concerned. However, on a case by case basis the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Missing Persons Bureau (MPB) facilitates enquiries between UK police forces and police forces/ law enforcement agencies abroad, both directly and through Interpol.

Passport Office: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the passport office in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) carried out a review of all of its estate and staff capacity in the light of anticipated future demand. As a result of that review, IPS is currently conducting a collective consultation process with staff, trade unions and interested parties, and will shortly be publishing an impact assessment covering all five passports offices (Belfast, Durham, Liverpool, Newport and Peterborough).

Police: Accountability

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account she has taken of the differing sizes of police force areas in her proposals for introduction of police and crime commissioners.

Nick Herbert: Police and crime commissioners will be elected with a force-wide mandate, and represent all citizens in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. In order to give effect to this the police and crime commissioners (PCC) must ensure that their Police and Crime Plan is tailored to reflect the needs of the varied and diverse communities within the force area. The plan will be prepared in consultation with those communities, and in consultation with the chief constable.
	The new Police and Crime Panels will also help to reflect the diversity of different force areas, as local councils will decide amongst themselves how best to appoint councillors that best represent the force area's population.
	The Government have made provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill that in larger force areas with more than 12 councils (such as the Thames Valley force area) each council will be allocated one seat on the panel, ensuring that all councils enjoy representation on it.
	The Government envisage that police and crime commissioner salaries will vary to reflect the differing size and complexity of forces, and has asked the Senior Salaries Review Body for advice on this.

Police: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers are assigned to duties in Halifax.

Nick Herbert: Constituency level data are not collected centrally. Available data relating to police and police community support officers for Calderdale basic command unit, at March 31 2010 are provided in the following table.
	The latest provisional police service strength statistics were published on 27 January 2011 and can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	Bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Police and police community support officers (PCSOs) strength, Calderdale basic command unit, 31 March 2010( 1) 
			   Number 
			 Police officers 365 
			 PCSOs 48 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Manpower

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force spent on  (a) police overtime and  (b) special priority payments in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Herbert: Data on overtime spending by each police force is published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The data for forces in England and Wales are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer overtime  spend 
			  £000 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,443 5,112 7,000 6,899 6,870 5,351 5,801 6,996 6,535 6,239 
			 Bedfordshire 2,709 3,992 4,106 4,708 4,693 4,181 4,398 3,993 3,962 4,079 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,920 4,102 5,175 4,238 n/a 5,550 4,976 4,238 4,584 3,370 
			 Cheshire 3,175 3,200 4,751 4,261 3,278 3,951 5,275 6,925 4,425 4,554 
			 Cleveland 2,096 2,996 4,035 3,479 2,188 4,038 4,834 4,369 3,813 3,306 
			 Cumbria 1,730 2,095 n/a 2,314 2,201 2,317 2,042 2,444 1,712 1,359 
			 Derbyshire 2,718 3,278 4,010 3,542 4,009 3,822 3,778 4,854 4,256 3,533 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,831 7,658 6,441 5,476 6,026 6,566 6,568 6,548 6,467 5,120 
			 Dorset 1,976 2,233 2,880 2,790 3,581 3,089 3,413 3,243 3,181 2,608 
			 Durham 2,538 3,083 3,151 2,868 3,325 3,158 3,221 3,596 2,702 2,678 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,694 2,017 2,458 1,794 1,936 2,163 2,724 2,566 2,329 2,339 
			 Essex 8,708 8,401 10,601 8,678 10,444 10,688 10,944 11,732 9,623 7,714 
			 Gloucestershire 2,209 2,337 3,257 3,430 2,766 3,273 2,854 3,353 2,662 3,519 
			 Greater Manchester 12,518 15,981 19,438 14,727 16,138 16,226 22,671 23,322 23,319 20,875 
			 Gwent 2,993 3,020 3,184 4,077 3,447 4,123 3,993 4,134 3,548 3,299 
			 Hampshire 7,109 8,557 11,603 9,703 11,818 11,243 12,001 11,480 8,871 8,091 
			 Hertfordshire 7,056 n/a 9,036 7,494 6,854 6,576 6,742 7,272 7,196 5,663 
			 Humberside 4,486 5,760 5,790 5,375 5,896 5,991 7,461 6,874 5,402 5,598 
			 Kent 6,941 7,420 10,301 9,523 9,877 11,405 11,992 n/a 10,084 7,055 
			 Lancashire 4,772 6,773 9,595 7,758 7,057 7,226 7,349 8,918 7,801 7,004 
			 Leicestershire 2,946 3,305 4,404 4,123 4,342 4,720 4,482 5,476 5,169 4,527 
			 Lincolnshire 2,945 2,537 3,199 2,193 2,856 2,345 2,214 3,708 2,680 2,490 
			 London, City of 2,065 2,375 2,602 2,135 2,185 1,955 1,096 2,731 2,141 2,342 
			 Merseyside 8,848 10,455 11,144 11,637 12,577 12,103 11,215 11,071 10,847 10,853 
			 Metropolitan Police 94,930 96,428 112,228 132,815 135,717 150,274 136,901 144,957 137,876 n/a 
			 Norfolk 3,848 3,737 3,884 3,653 3,950 3,640 3,374 4,201 3,298 3,034 
			 Northamptonshire 2,594 2,740 3,446 3,885 3,403 4,099 2,767 3,626 2,829 2,463 
			 Northumbria 4,421 4,776 6,217 6,452 7,395 7,736 8,135 7,878 7,424 8,138 
			 North Wales 2,197 n/a 2,688 1,311 2,991 2,246 834 3,478 2,738 3,056 
			 North Yorkshire 3,738 3,584 3,534 3,199 3,690 4,889 4,352 2,996 2,477 3,992 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,210 4,304 4,626 n/a 6,782 5,886 5,091 n/a 5,469 6,057 
			 South Wales 4,181 3,993 4,977 5,328 6,291 5,002 6,473 n/a 6,449 6,180 
			 South Yorkshire 5,605 n/a 8,097 7,601 8,962 9,467 9,605 10,167 8,329 9,209 
			 Staffordshire 4,664 5,089 7,580 6,241 5,973 6,054 5,210 5,104 4,969 5,277 
			 Suffolk 1,760 1,776 1,815 2,031 2,171 2,041 3,467 3,543 2,856 2,100 
			 Surrey 5,028 5,674 6,573 5,679 6,228 6,322 6,354 5,930 4,643 4,875 
			 Sussex 14,418 8,159 6,098 7,971 8,887 8,213 7,271 5,946 6,598 6,684 
			 Thames Valley 8,381 12,052 12,006 11,504 12,345 11,810 15,897 13,762 n/a 10,767 
			 Warwickshire 1,773 1,811 2,207 1,945 2,279 3,056 3,207 3,753 3,330 2,341 
			 West Mercia 3,837 4,495 4,857 4,503 4,491 4,107 5,237 5,560 5,770 4,864 
			 West Midlands 11,366 n/a 18,785 16,637 18,009 23,496 20,081 24,152 21,301 17,951 
			 West Yorkshire 7,322 11,839 13,510 10,997 13,549 13,323 13,244 18,128 13,790 12,496 
			 Wiltshire 1,850 1,770 1,940 1,440 2,430 1,903 2,385 n/a 3,180 1,654 
			 n/a = Data not available.  Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy 
		
	
	The Home Office does not collect information on spending on special priority payments from forces. However, from 2003-04 to 2005-06, the Home Office provided forces with ring-fenced funding for special priority payments. The following table sets out the funding provided which is not necessarily identical to the amount spent because forces could have spent more than the allocated funding.
	
		
			  £ 
			   SPP 
			  Force  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Avon and Somerset 865,015 1,304,015 1,675,979 
			 Bedfordshire 300,000 415,290 533,749 
			 Cambridgeshire 416,000 598,686 769,458 
			 Cheshire 619,091 870,356 1,118,621 
			 Cleveland 40,000 633,730 814,498 
			 Cumbria 340,000 533,474 685,645 
			 Derbyshire 585,467 845,415 1,086,565 
			 Devon and Cornwall 855,000 1,238,250 1,591,455 
			 Dorset 384,000 543,034 697,932 
			 Durham 443,360 627,405 806,369 
			 Essex 929,667 1,175,841 1,511,244 
			 Gloucestershire 302,867 519,078 667,143 
			 Hampshire 1,150,667 1,546,957 1,988,218 
			 Hertfordshire 580,000 854,146 1,097,787 
			 Humberside 616,000 935,554 1,202,416 
			 Kent 992,100 1,508,485 1,938,774 
			 Lancashire 579,375 1,329,004 1,708,096 
			 Leicestershire 572,000 826,756 1,062,584 
			 Lincolnshire 369,289 494,931 636,107 
			 Norfolk 472,000 640,750 823,521 
			 Northamptonshire 403,192 562,389 722,808 
			 North Yorkshire 410,000 689,487 886,159 
			 Nottinghamshire 750,000 1,028,408 1,321,756 
			 Staffordshire 749,331 937,079 1,204,376 
			 Suffolk 350,000 475,831 611,559 
			 Surrey 534,061 764,664 982,780 
			 Sussex 900,000 1,189,117 1,528,307 
			 Thames Valley 1,140,519 1,573,938 2,022,897 
			 Warwickshire 288,000 422,945 543,588 
			 West Mercia 682,000 899,788 1,156,449 
			 Wiltshire 352,911 451,820 580,699 
			 Greater Manchester 2,412,673 3,021,406 3,883,248 
			 Merseyside 1,312,000 1,805,686 2,320,749 
			 Northumbria 1,186,429 1,652,794 2,124,245 
			 South Yorkshire 959,300 1,267,082 1,628,510 
			 West Midlands 2,262,768 2,956,560 3,799,905 
			 West Yorkshire 1,300,000 1,879,600 2,415,747 
			 Metropolitan 7,733,333 11,364,532 14,606,210 
			 COLP - 341,980 439,529 
			 Dyfed-Powys 322,000 462,294 594,161 
			 Gwent 394,443 565,567 726,892 
			 North Wales 440,191 703,830 904,594 
			 South Wales 890,000 1,228,300 1,578,666

Police: Recruitment

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to introduce greater flexibility into police recruitment.

Nick Herbert: Police forces in England and Wales are responsible for managing their recruitment and selection processes according to local needs and circumstances, in line with national guidance.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has provided guidance that seeks to provide flexibility of entry routes to become a police officer, available at the following NPIA website link:
	http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Pre_Join_ Guidance_0111_CA_HA_Ful_doc__6_.pdf
	Entry routes for police officer roles can include candidates having served in the Special Constabulary or as a police community support officer and recognition of prior learning, such as relevant knowledge based certificates or foundation degrees.

Public Reading Stage

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of her Office will be working on  (a) the introduction of a public reading stage for Bills and  (b) the introduction of a public reading day within a Bill's committee stage.

James Brokenshire: As announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement on 15 February 2011,  Official Report, column 73WS, the Protection of Freedoms Bill is being used to pilot the new "public reading stage" of a Bill. As indicated in that statement the pilot will not involve changes to Standing Orders or the procedures of the House and accordingly the pilot will not involve a "public reading day" during the committee stage of the Bill. The Bill team (which comprises three members of staff) will, alongside their existing duties, be responsible for collating the comments submitted on the Bill by members of the public.

Stop and Search: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) stop and account and  (b) stop and searches were undertaken in the Metropolitan police force area in each of the last three years.

Nick Herbert: The information requested on  (a) stop and account and  (b) stop and searches from 2006-07 to 2008-09 (latest available) are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of searches under stop and search powers and number of persons required to stop and account in the Metropolitan police force area, 2006-07 to 2008-09 
			   Number of stop and searches( 1)  Number of stop and accounts( 2) 
			 2006-07 370,290 244,571 
			 2007-08(3) 520,484 441,056 
			 2008-09(3) 794,707 600,227 
			 (1) Includes searches of persons or vehicles under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1984 and Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.  (2) Stop and account is where an officer requests a person in a public place to account for himself/herself in relation to one or more of the following: his/her actions; his/her behaviour; his/her presence in an area; or his/her possessions. Figures published by the Ministry of Justice in the annual bulletin "Race and the Criminal Justice System".  (3) Figures for stop and accounts for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are the most recent published provisional data. As a result, the figures may differ from those published in earlier years.

Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre: Children

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families have been detained in the family rooms at Tinsley house immigration removal centre (IRC) since 16 December 2010; and in how many incidences have such families not had access to supervisors who can help children to leave the IRC.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 February 2011
	 Local management information indicates that two families with children have been accommodated at Tinsley house since 16 December 2010.
	The two families were encountered at the border, seeking entry to the UK. In both cases neither family qualified for entry. With no suitable accommodation in the UK it was not considered in the best interests of the children either temporarily to admit them with no accommodation or separate them from their families. Detention ceased at the first appropriate opportunity the following day.
	Our commitment to provide the opportunity for children to leave the centre does not apply to families in these circumstances. The commitment relates to families who are being removed from within the UK and being held in Tinsley during the period from January until the new pre-departure accommodation becomes operational.
	No such cases have arisen to date.
	Figures provided by the Family Returns Unit are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and are routinely accompanied by a caveat which states that they are provisional and may be subject to change. In this particular instance, however, we are certain that the figure given is absolutely correct.
	The Home Office publishes National Statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis and management information on the number of children entering detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers, by month, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

War Crimes

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of war crimes suspects living in the UK.

Damian Green: It is the Government's policy that the UK should not be a refuge for war criminals or those who have committed crimes against humanity, including genocide.
	Beyond the work of the UK Border Agency War Crimes Team, no official data are collated that would enable an assessment of the number of war crimes suspects in the UK. Between August 2005 and June 2010, the UK Border Agency War Crimes Team recommended that immigration action be taken against 495 suspected war criminals. Subsequent to these recommendations action was taken against 360 suspects, of which; 19 were removed from the UK, 18 departed voluntarily and 75 were denied entry to the UK. Of the remaining 248 suspects; 139 were refused British Citizenship and remain in country with indefinite leave to remain, 35 were refused asylum and granted discretionary leave pending removal and 74 were appealing their decision and/or awaiting further action against them.

Young Offenders

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that budgets for youth offending and crime prevention services are protected in the light of reductions in the levels of local authority budgets.

James Brokenshire: The Government are committed to tackling youth crime to ensure that young people are diverted from a life of crime. This is why ring-fenced funding worth more than £18 million over two years to tackle knife, gun, gang and other youth crime, was announced by the Government on 2 February 2011. The two year funding will be given to police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle serious youth violence and prevent young people entering a cycle of crime. The ring-fenced funding will run between April 2011-12 and March 2012-13, when police and crime commissioners will be in place and will have responsibility for their own budgets.
	In addition, the Home Office is also providing up to £20 million towards the Early Intervention Grant (via the Department for Education), over two years, and up to £18 million for youth offending teams (via the Ministry of Justice) to deliver frontline youth crime prevention work, including knife crime prevention programmes, for young offenders.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Green Belt

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to protect local green belts from inappropriate development.

Greg Clark: Local planning authorities must have regard to policy currently in planning policy guidance note 2, "Green Belts" when writing development plans or deciding planning proposals affecting green belt. PPG2 establishes a presumption against inappropriate development. The coalition agreement commits us to maintaining the green belt. Moreover, through the Localism Bill we are abolishing regional strategies and their 'top down' pressure to review green belt boundaries.

Green Belt

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on the provisions of Planning and Policy Guidance 2-Green Belts; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: In December the Government invited people to suggest the policies and priorities which should shape the National Planning Policy Framework that is to replace all the Planning Policy Statements and Guidance Notes, including PPG2 (Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 "Green Belts"). That informal consultation is closing on 28 February 2011.
	At this stage it is not possible to say how many respondents mention PPG2, or to what purpose. Full consultation on a draft text of the Framework will take place later this year.
	In addition, the Department routinely receives letters which refer to PPG2. Some respondents find the policy unduly restrictive; others ask for explanation of the policy or for intervention when a proposal is made affecting green belt land locally. However, it is for local planning authorities to apply the policies in PPG2, and ensure green belt protection in line with it.
	The coalition agreement commits the Government to maintaining green belt protection. Abolition of regional strategies through the Localism Bill will also help protect the green belt by removing top down directives to review or weaken green belt protection in over 30 towns across England.

Green Belt

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the granting of planning permission under the very special circumstances provisions of Planning and Policy Guidance 2-Green Belts would be a material consideration in future applications for development on the same site; under what circumstances would such subsequent applications be determined other than on their own merits; whether he plans to revise the guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The planning history of any application site may be a material factor in a planning case if decision-makers in the case consider it appropriate. It would be for the local planning authority to assess the relevance of an earlier permission on the same land, taking into account the reasons why that permission had been granted, but there is no automatic consequence. Each planning application must be determined on its own merits in light of current policies in the local development framework, and of all other material considerations such as Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 "Green Belts" if the land is green belt.
	In December we announced the start of work to create a National Planning Policy Framework. As part of this, we will consider how best to update the policy currently set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2. A consultation draft of the Framework will be published later this year.
	The coalition agreement commits the Government to maintaining green belt protection. Abolition of regional strategies through the Localism Bill will also help protect the green belt by removing top down directives to review or weaken green belt protection in over 30 towns across England.

Voluntary Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the community and voluntary sector of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities.

Greg Clark: Spending decisions are a matter for local councils, but no council will see their spending power fall by more than 8.8% next year. Councils do face difficult decisions due to fiscal crisis that was not of their making-or ours.
	The best councils are expanding the opportunities for the voluntary sector to help them make savings. The worst-run councils are targeting the sector for disproportionate cuts. We are requiring all councils to be transparent in the action they are taking.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible.

Eric Pickles: I have already closed four of my Department's arms length bodies and have put a programme of reform in place which will see another 12 either closed or transferred to the private or voluntary sector by 2012. These were set out in the Government's Public Bodies Review published on 14 October last year.

Procurement

Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to establish flexible local procurement processes.

Grant Shapps: The Government are working with the Local Government Group on their "Local Productivity" programme to identify opportunities for collaboration and to open up more opportunities to a diverse range of suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary and community groups.

Local Authority Funding

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the likely change in the provision of services by local authorities as a result of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities.

Bob Neill: We have given councils much greater financial autonomy and flexibility to manage their budgets. If they share back office services, join forces to get better value from their buying power, cut out excessive chief executive pay and root out overspending and waste, then they can protect key front-line services.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of his proposals for the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme on the supply of  (a) larger family accommodation comprising four bedrooms or more and  (b) supported housing for the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

Andrew Stunell: The number and type of affordable rent homes delivered will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
	We expect providers of affordable housing and local authorities to work closely to identify the type of provision that will most appropriately meet the locally identified needs.
	The needs and aspirations of vulnerable and older people should be considered in the provision of general needs housing, as well as in specialist provision.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme on  (a) the supply of social-rented homes,  (b) the supply of new affordable rented homes,  (c) rent levels applicable to new lettings for (i) social-rented and (ii) new affordable homes and  (d) expenditure in housing benefit payments.

Andrew Stunell: The Government aim to deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes between 2011 to 2015 mainly through the Affordable Homes Programme. The number of social rented and affordable rent homes delivered will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
	Existing social tenants will retain their current tenancy and rent arrangements. Rent levels for new lettings of social rented homes will also be set according to current arrangements. New homes for affordable rent will be made available at a rent level of up to 80% of market rents (inclusive of service charges).
	The Affordable Rent Impact Assessment, to be published in due course, will provide an assessment of the likely impact on the Exchequer under different delivery scenarios. The Impact Assessment will include analysis of the impact on housing benefit of the new affordable rent product.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the affordability for prospective tenants of the proposed affordable rented lettings under the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme; what comparison he has made of the  (a) rents paid and  (b) average earnings of tenants; and what proportion of tenants under the proposed affordable rent lettings he expects to depend on housing benefit to pay all or part of their rent.

Andrew Stunell: Affordable rent is aimed at the same client group as for social rented housing, which is why the properties will fall within the allocations framework for social rent.
	Local authorities and landlords have some scope for flexibility within that framework, as they do for social rented housing, which they may choose to exercise in relation to affordable rent properties. They may, for example, target it at households in work but on low incomes, and agree specific nomination arrangements for individual schemes, for example to achieve mixed income communities in a given area.
	Tenants in affordable rent properties will benefit from a sub-market rent and, where necessary, support through housing benefit.

Audit Commission: Bank Services

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value was of the Audit Commission's lost deposits held in Icelandic banks; what the estimated monetary value is of the interest lost on those deposits; how much of those deposits have been returned to date; and what estimate the Commission has made of the proportion of the monetary value of the deposits that will be  (a) returned and  (b) written off.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 28 February 2011:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive who is on leave.
	The Audit Commission had deposits in Landsbanki Islands HF London and in Heritable Bank London when the banks failed in October 2008.
	The Audit Commission is one of 123 public bodies in the UK with frozen deposits in Icelandic banks. The total amount deposited by those bodies at the time of the bank failures was approximately £945 million.
	The table below sets out in detail the information requested.
	
		
			   Heritable  Landsbanki 
			 Monetary value of the deposits (£ million) 5.0 5.0 
			 Deposit returned to date (£ million) 2.5 0 
			 Estimated proportion of the deposit that will be returned(1) (percentage) 85 89 
			 Proportion of the deposit written off on current analysis(2) (percentage) 15 11 
			 Estimated monetary value of lost interest (£ million) 0.25 0.04 
			 (1) The Heritable Bank recoverable amount is based on information from the administrators and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Local Authority Accounting Panel (LAAP) guidance. The Landsbanki recoverable amount is based on information from the Landsbanki winding up board, Commission legal and technical advice along with consideration of CIPFA LAAP guidance on priority status. The priority status of UK deposits by local authorities as well as the Commission is currently the subject of litigation in Iceland. The outcome of the litigation could affect the recoverable amount. 2. The value of lost interest for Heritable is calculated as the total interest of £323,000 originally expected on the £5 million deposit less the expected interest return of £74,000. The value of lost interest for Landsbanki is calculated as the total interest of £272,000 originally expected on the £5 million deposit less the expected interest return of £232,000. The impact is lower for Landsbanki as the investment was due to mature just after the claim date. 
		
	
	Landsbanki values are subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuations, as the debt has been crystallised in Icelandic Kroner.

Audit Commission: Consultants

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the Audit Commission has made to the Community Business Consultancy to date; what the hourly or daily rate was for services provided in each such case; and what the purpose was of each such payment.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 28 February 2011:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive on leave.
	The Audit Commission has made payments to Community Business Consultancy from 2000/2001 to date as detailed in the table below:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total (£) 
			 2000-01 3,328.56 
			 2001-02 22,356.04 
			 2002-04(1) 16,703.08 
			 2004-05 10,929.10 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 10,158.80 
			 2007-08 9,725.50 
			 2008-09 0 
			 2009-10 0 
			 2010-11 1,261.70 
			 (1) 17 month financial year. 
		
	
	The payments were for peer councillor input into the nationally agreed programmes of council corporate assessments as part of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), as well as input into corporate governance inspections between 2001 and 2008. Input by elected members was a key component of the process to ensure all judgements took full account of peer / practitioner experience.
	The 2010/11 payment relates to work undertaken in March for peer input into Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) judgements that were being formulated for 2010. This followed an agreement with the Local Government Association after the independent evaluation of the first year of CAA judgements that the second year assessments should include a greater level of peer input.
	The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) Peer Clearing House sourced and accredited councillor and senior officer peers. The inclusion of peers on inspection teams gained strong support from the local government sector as evidenced in evaluations of CPA and consultations on new inspection approaches.
	The agreed standard national daily rate varied from £200 per day to £300 per day depending on the type of work. The daily rate in 2010/11 was £300. Travel costs were paid in addition.

Audit Commission: Pay

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value of the  (a) basic pay,  (b) bonus,  (c) pension contribution,  (d) hotel costs in London,  (e) travel expenses,  (f) hospitality expenses and  (g) other benefits in kind for the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission (i) was in 2010-11 and (ii) is estimated to be in 2011-12.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 28 February 2011:
	Your parliamentary question has been passed to me for reply. The figures you requested are:
	
		
			  2010 / 11 
			   £ 
			  (a) Basic pay (1)165,004 
			  (b) Bonus (2)- 
			  (c) Pension contributions 43,704 
			  (d) Hotel costs in London (3)18,055,36 
			  (e) Travel expenses (4)812.15 
			 (1) See paragraph below. (2) The Audit Commission does not have a bonus scheme. (3) Staying in London on average three nights per week to the end of January 2011. (4) April 2010 to February 2011. 
		
	
	
		
			  2011 / 12 
			   £ 
			  (a) Basic pay (1)164,112 
			  (b) Bonus (2)- 
			  (c) Pension contributions 44,596 
			 (1) See paragraph below. (2) The Audit Commission does not have a bonus scheme. 
		
	
	On  (a), for both years, staff contribute to the Audit Commission Pension Scheme through a salary sacrifice scheme called SMART pensions. This means that basic salaries are reduced in lieu of an increased employer contribution to the Pension Scheme.
	For 2010/11, the Chief Executive's salary was reduced by £13,379. For 2011/12, we estimate the reduction will be £14,271. These amounts are included in the pension contribution figures, but have been removed from the basic salary figures.
	There has been no hospitality expenditure for 2010/11 and there is expected to be none for 2011/12. We expect travel expenses for 2011/12 to stay roughly the same, (any increases being because of increased fares, not more travel), but hotel costs to decrease, based on an average of two, not three, nights in London.
	When Steve Bundred, the previous Chief Executive, left the Commission on 31 March 2010, Eugene Sullivan, who had been the Managing Director for Finance and Corporate Services, became the Interim Chief Executive. On the announcement of the Commission's abolition, he became the permanent Chief Executive. He receives an additional responsibility allowance for this of £18,000 per annum and a transport allowance of £4,070 per annum. There are no other benefits in kind. The Commission also buys a standard class return ticket each week for travel from his home to London.

Citizenship Survey

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to commission the next Citizenship Survey.

Andrew Stunell: As my Department has previously announced, there are no plans to commission further years of the Citizenship Survey. This is because:
	The survey costs £4 million per survey year. This is unsustainable given the planned reductions to the Department's administrative budgets, in turn which stem from the need to pay off the last Government's budget deficit. The planned savings to the Department's own budget are greater than those being asked of local government.
	Priority data can be collected less frequently or via other means, as part of a broader reconfiguration of the Department's research budgets. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial Statement of 1 February 2011,  Official Report, column 39WS, on the broader need to ensure far better value for money for the research budget of the department.
	In setting priorities, support for voluntary sector funding is more valuable than payments to large opinion poll companies like Ipsos-MORI and TNS-BMRB for undertaking large scale surveys of attitudes and behaviour. I also refer the hon. Member to my Department's press notice of 10 August 2010, a copy of which is already in the Library, on the decision to cancel the equally expensive £4 million a year Place Survey.

Community Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 207-8W, on community development, what funds his Department has allocated to the promotion of best practice and shared learning in developing social capital.

Greg Clark: The Office for Civil Society is developing programmes to support social action within communities by building the links and networks that foster social capital. The Government are piloting a National Citizen Service for 11,000 16-year-olds in summer 2011. The National Citizen Service will bring together young people from different backgrounds, giving them the opportunity to plan and deliver projects that will benefit their local communities and fostering lasting bonds between participants.
	The Government will also train 5,000 community organisers over the lifetime of this Parliament. The programme is about catalysing community action at a neighbourhood level and community organisers will be well-trained and committed individuals who will work closely with communities to identify local leaders, projects and opportunities for the community.

Community Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 207-8W, on community development, whether his Department has sponsored any  (a) meetings,  (b) conferences and  (c) seminars on the promotion of best practice and shared learning in developing social capital within communities.

Greg Clark: The Department has not sponsored events which focus specifically on developing social capital.

Departmental Overseas Visits

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase of 1 February 2011,  Official Report, column 743W, on departmental overseas visits, what meetings took place during the visits of the right hon. Member for Tooting to  (a) Pakistan and  (b) Saudi Arabia; what individuals and groups he met; and if the meetings included engagement with those known to be associated with non-violent extremists.

Bob Neill: holding answer 14 February 2011
	During his visits to Pakistan, in April 2009, and Saudi Arabia, in May 2009 the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan) held the following meetings:
	 Pakistan
	Meetings with members of the Pakistani Government, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
	Meeting with Pakistani community groups (including a women's group and Muslim Hands).
	A meeting with Javed Miandad, President of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
	Meeting with the Mayor of Karachi.
	Meetings with a number of religious leaders.
	A meeting with British high commission staff.
	Mr Khan also gave a speech at the University of Islamabad, alongside British-Pakistani local councillors and academics.
	 Saudi Arabia
	Meetings with members of the Saudi Arabian Government, including with Dr Abdullah Al Luhaidan, Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs.
	A meeting with Shaykh Aazeb al Misbel, President of the Committee on Islam and Human Rights.
	Meetings with representatives of Saudi universities.
	Meetings with representatives of the Saudi Arabian print and broadcast media.
	A meeting with the Muslim World League.
	Meetings with Mosque authorities.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government also published press releases on both of these visits on its website:
	 Pakistan:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1197398
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1199316
	 Saudi Arabia:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100410180038/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1235071
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1236155
	All meetings held by the right hon. Member for Tooting during these two visits were official Government visits, arranged in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the furtherance of the previous administration's Preventing Extremism agenda. None of the meetings included engagement with those known to be associated with non-violent extremists.
	From October 2009, DCLG has published details of all meetings held by Ministers with external contacts on its website.

Departmental Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what single tender contracts his Department has awarded since his appointment; and what the monetary value is of each contract above the EU public procurement threshold.

Bob Neill: Records held by the Department's procurement team show a total of 18 single tender contracts awarded since 12 May 2010. Of these, the following were above the EU public procurement threshold:
	
		
			  Contract  Company  Value (£) 
			 Mobile data terminal and station end equipment service support to the Fire and Rescue Service Infoterra/Multitone 188,620 
			 Web hosting Verizon 610,000 
			 Interim Manager Capita 235,000 
			 Commercial Director for FireControl project Alpine 120,000

Departmental Research

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on research and policy reports commissioned before May 2010 and which have not published.

Bob Neill: The last Administration has spent £25.6 million on research projects that were commissioned but not published before May 2010. As at 14 February 2011, the Department has published reports relating to research projects totalling £6.1 million. We plan to publish the remaining reports relating to research projects totalling £19.5 million over the next few months.
	As Ministers have outlined in the written statements of 1 February 2011,  Official Report, column 39WS, and 9 February 2011,  Official Report, column 10WS, the new Government intend to ensure their research delivers best possible value for money for the taxpayer and that sums expended are reasonable in relation to the public policy benefits obtained. DCLG has put in place scrutiny and challenge processes for future research. All new projects will be scrutinised to ensure the methodology is sound and that all options for funding are explored at an early stage. This includes using existing work from other organisations, joint funding projects with other Departments or organisations and taking work forward in-house.

Fire Services: Procurement

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contingency plans are in place for private companies that enter administration whilst under contract to lease fire engines to  (a) the London Fire Brigade and  (b) fire brigades in England; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to enable them to continue to fulfil their statutory duties. This responsibility holds even in the event that private companies enter administration while under contract to lease fire engines.

Gardens: Property Development

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many appeals against refusals of consent for construction developments in gardens were allowed in the last 12 months for which figures are available; in how many such cases the Planning Inspectorate has awarded costs against the local authority; whether he has provided guidance to the Planning Inspectorate on its handling of appeals against refusals of consent for developments in gardens; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: My statement of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 9WS, announced that private residential gardens would no longer be included in the definition of previously-developed land and the national indicative minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare had been removed. Planning inspectors undertaking housing casework involving proposed garden land development have been made fully aware of the revised policy context:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1610193
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/lettergardengrabbing
	The effect of these very positive changes is to strengthen councils' powers in dealing with applications to develop garden land in built up areas, by removing it from the "brownfield" (or previously developed) land category on which national planning policy sets a target for at least 60% of new housing to be provided on such land every year, and removing the minimum density requirement which previously applied to such proposals. Each planning application and appeal will need to be considered on its individual merits, such as how a proposed development fits into the character and appearance of the locality.
	Of a total of 932 appeals involving development in back gardens determined from the date of my statement on 9 June 2010 up to the end of December 2010, 201 appeals were allowed. This equates to an allowed rate of 22%. By comparison, for the same period 31% of planning appeals as a whole were allowed.
	Of the 201 allowed appeals, records show that, to date, an award of costs against the local authority was made in 35 cases.
	These figures do not take into account the number of planning applications for inappropriate garden development which are refused by the local authority but not appealed; nor do these figures quantify the number of potential planning applications for inappropriate development which have been discouraged as a result of the new guidance.

Housing

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of  (a) homes and  (b) households.

Andrew Stunell: There were an estimated 22.7 million homes in England in March 2010.
	The most recent estimate currently available for the number of households is for 2009-10, based on data from the English Housing Survey: there were an estimated 21.6 million households in England in 2009-10.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to ensure that Housing Revenue Account receipts are ring-fenced following the introduction of self-financing.

Grant Shapps: The rules governing the use by local authorities of housing receipts are to remain substantially unchanged after the introduction of self-financing in April 2012: 25% of receipts arising from Right to Buy (and similar) sales may be invested by local authorities in any capital project; receipts from all other Housing Revenue Account sales (including vacant land) may be used for affordable housing or regeneration projects, or used to pay off associated debt.
	Last year, the Department consulted on reforms to the Housing Revenue Account, and the paper discussed the proposal that local authorities should also retain the remaining 75% of housing receipts provided they were used for affordable housing or regeneration projects. 37 authorities are recorded as supporting it. As part of the spending review, it was decided that this option would not be pursued at this time. Instead we have added new compensation in the self-financing valuation to cover the loss of income from those homes. This has reduced the amount of debt councils will take on under self-financing by £862 million, which compares with total pooled receipts last year of £133 million.
	No decision has been made on whether to change the proportion of housing receipts local authorities may retain after 2015.

Local Government Finance: Milton Keynes

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much financial support was given to Milton Keynes council by the Government in each year since 1996-97.

Bob Neill: The total amount of financial support given to Milton Keynes council since 1996-97 by central Government to finance their revenue and capital expenditure is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Central Government grants( 1)  for funding revenue expenditure  Capital expenditure funded by central Government grants( 2) 
			 1996-97(3) 14.7 0.5 
			 1997-98 118.9 0.9 
			 1998-99 125.3 1.0 
			 1999-2000 135.7 1.8 
			 2000-01 144.2 0.4 
			 2001-02 160.9 1.3 
			 2002-03 161.8 2.9 
			 2003-04 187.2 4.6 
			 2004-05 198.2 7.4 
			 2005-06 224.0 8.4 
			 2006-07 239.8 12.1 
			 2007-08 259.7 56.0 
			 2008-09 279.7 44.4 
			 2009-10 290.2 34.5 
			 2010-11(4) 301.9 36.8 
			 (1 )Central Government grants includes Area Based Grant, Specific Grants inside Aggregate External Finance, Revenue Support Grant and Redistributed Non-Domestic Rates.  (2 )Capital figures relate to the period when the expenditure took place, rather than the period when the grant was received.  (3) Prior to 1997-98 Milton Keynes was part of the two-tier structure, with some of its services such as education and social care financed and managed by Bedfordshire county council. From 1997-98 Milton Keynes became a unitary authority, taking over all responsibilities that were previously managed and financed by Bedfordshire.  (4) These figures are budget estimates of the position in the 2010-11 financial year.   Source:  Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO), Revenue Accounts (RA) Budget, Capital Outturn (COR) and Capital Estimates (CER) forms.

Local Government Finance: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value of proceeds from sales, fees and charges received by Peterborough City Council in 2009-10 was; what such receipts constituted as a proportion of total service expenditure; what his estimate is of the equivalent figures for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: In the financial year 2009-10, the total amount of income from sales, fees and charges received by Peterborough city council was £23.4 million. This represents 5.8% of their gross total service expenditure of £404 million.
	No estimate for sales, fees and charges or total service expenditure has yet been made for the financial year 2011-12.
	The Government do not expect councils to address their financial challenges in 2011-12 simply by increasing fees and charges. We have given councils much greater financial autonomy and flexibility to manage their budgets. If they share back office services, join forces to get better value from their buying power, cut out excessive chief executive pay and root out overspending and waste, then they can protect key frontline services.

Local Government Finance: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the monetary value of financial reserves held by Peterborough City Council in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The budgeted figures for 2010-11 financial reserves levels for Peterborough city council are in the following table:
	
		
			  At 31 March 2011 
			   £ million 
			 Schools reserves 3.238 
			   
			  Non-schools reserves  
			 Other earmarked 6.537 
			 Unallocated 3.827 
			 Non-schools total 10.364 
			  Source: Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Account (RA) budget returns for 2010-11 
		
	
	Schools reserves are defined as those balances made under s.48 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and are used for the purpose of schools.
	Non-schools reserves are defined as the sums held to finance future spending for purposes falling outside the definition of a provision. Reserves held for stated purposes are known as earmarked reserves. The remainder are unallocated reserves.

Local Government: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account was taken of the planned increase in employees contributions in the local government pension scheme in the local authority grant settlement for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: No account of future increases in employment contributions was taken in the local government finance settlement for 2011-12.

Local Government: Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) people who volunteered and  (b) hours given by volunteers in local authorities in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: We do not hold centrally any data sources to establish volunteering rates at local authority level and so this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

National Identity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanism his Department has put in place to measure perceptions of British values and identity.

Andrew Stunell: The Department is working with the Home Office and others to develop the Government's Integration Strategy. This will include consideration of the characteristics of a well integrated society and of the perceptions of British values and identifies.

Nature Conservation

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers are available to local authorities who wish to revoke the conservation area status granted to particular areas.

Bob Neill: Local planning authorities have powers under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to designate conservation areas and to vary or cancel any such designation, subject to giving notice to the Secretary of State and English Heritage.

Non-domestic Rates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assistance his Department plans to provide to small businesses to assist them with payment of their business rates.

Bob Neill: We have already doubled small business rate relief for one year. In the Localism Bill, we are also taking powers to simplify the process for claiming this relief, stop unfair, retrospective business rates being imposed on local firms, and allow local authorities to respond to local circumstances by reducing business rates bills.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of his decision to remove guidance to local authorities on the setting of parking charges to encourage the use of alternative forms of transport on  (a) congestion,  (b) pollution arising from traffic and  (c) the use of alternative forms of transport.

Bob Neill: The coalition Government's changes to parking planning rules have:
	(a) removed Whitehall restrictions which imposed maximum numbers of parking spaces in new residential developments;
	(b) changed a policy which inhibited competition between council areas to one that said parking charges should not undermine the vitality of town centres;
	(c) introduced a policy that parking enforcement should be proportionate;
	(d) removed the policy that encouraged councils to set car parking charges to discourage the use of cars; and
	(e) signalled support for increased electric car infrastructure.
	This Government's assessment is that there would be little impact to  (a) congestion,  (b) pollution arising from traffic and  (c) the use of alternative forms or transport. This is because the choice of transport mode is affected by more than just parking policies. The promotion of electric cars will reduce pollution.
	The last Government's parking rules have led to more parking problems on local roads, clogging up residential roads with parked cars and making drivers cruise the streets hunting for a precious parking space. Parking problems on new developments can cause knock-on effects to surrounding neighbourhoods. Such spill-over creates street congestion that can cause blind spots for pedestrians, hinder emergency vehicles and lead to 'fly parking'. In this context, the new Government's more sensible parking policies will reduce the scope for congestion.

Schools: Planning

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effects on road safety of removing the requirement for school travel plans from planning regulations for free schools as proposed in his Department's consultation on planning for schools development.

Bob Neill: The consultation on planning for schools development invited views on the possible transport impacts of the proposals. We are considering the responses received.

Social Rented Housing

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social rented tenancies were available for reletting as social rented tenancies in each year since 2005; and what his Department's estimate is of the supply of such relets in each year from 2011 to 2015.

Grant Shapps: The number of new social rent general needs lettings of existing properties previously let by local authorities and housing associations that have become vacant relets, are given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of housing association relets  Number of local authority relets  Total relets 
			 2005-06 107,700 - - 
			 2006-07 109,800 - - 
			 2007-08 106,600 118,800 225,400 
			 2008-09 114,800 118,100 232,900 
			 2009-10 113,300 123,900 237,200 
			  Source: CORE lettings returns (weighted) 
		
	
	Information is available for general needs lettings only.
	Figures are only available for local authority lettings on a comparable basis from 2007-08.
	The Department does not produce forecasts of numbers of relets of local authority and housing association properties in future years.

Social Rented Housing

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average weekly rent was in each region for new lettings of  (a) council tenancies and  (b) housing association assured tenancies in each year since 2001; and what his estimate is of the likely rent level for such lettings in each region in each year from 2011 to 2015.

Grant Shapps: Reliable information on local authority lettings is not available.
	The following table gives the average weekly rent in each region for new lettings of housing association assured tenancies in each year since 2001-02:
	
		
			  Average weekly rent of new housing association lettings, assured tenancies, by region, 2001-02 to 2009-10 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 North East 43.55 49.49 56.12 53.78 55.79 57.74 59.78 63.52 65.78 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 46.71 53.39 53.25 53.76 55.08 56.98 59.36 63.35 66.88 
			 East Midlands 46.64 53.05 54.69 56.26 58.87 60.58 63.58 66.77 69.55 
			 East of England 42.23 56.25 60.39 62.61 64.68 67.11 69.70 73.85 79.08 
			 London 63.11 68.00 71.37 74.60 74.15 81.31 85.33 91.26 97.70 
			 South East 58.08 65.45 66.83 67.98 70.28 73.20 76.08 80.61 85.41 
			 South West 53.01 58.88 59.57 60.31 62.33 64.63 67.55 71.27 76.10 
			 West Midlands 50.68 54.27 55.48 57.23 59.58 61.02 64.05 68.44 71.42 
			 North West 48.15 52.53 53.23 54.94 56.52 58.88 61.42 64.94 68.74 
			  Notes: 1. Figures relate to basic rents only and exclude additional charges 2. Figures include general needs and supported housing lettings  Source: CORE lettings returns 
		
	
	From 2011, affordable rent homes will be made available at a rent level of up to 80% of the market rent (inclusive of service charges) and will rise at retail price index + 0.5% for the duration of the tenancy. Existing social tenants will retain their current tenancy and rent arrangements. Social rent increases remain subject to the rent restructuring formula with rents increasing by the retail price index + 0.5% limit.

Social Rented Housing

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's estimate is of the average weekly rent for a  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four or more bedroom property for (i) secure local authority tenancies, (ii) assured housing association tenancies and (iii) using 80 per cent. of open market rent levels in each local authority in the latest period for which figures are available.

Grant Shapps: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 3 November 2010,  Official Report, column 817W, given to the hon. Member for Westminster North (Ms Buck) which gives local authority level information on local authority and registered social landlord average (mean) weekly rents by bedroom size.
	I also refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 13 January 2011,  Official Report, column 437W, given to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck), on median weekly rents. Updated figures are available on the Valuation Office Agency's website. I would draw to the right hon. Member's attention my comments on the risk of making potentially misleading assumptions about this data. Data is not held at local authority level.

Supermarkets: Planning Permission

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the effects of successful planning approvals for large out-of-town shopping centres on small businesses.

Bob Neill: Planning decisions are rightly the responsibility of local planning authorities, taking into account national planning policy.
	Planning Policy Statement 4 (PPS4): "Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth" sets out current national planning policy on economic development, including retail development. PPS4 asks local planning authorities to assess the impact of new unplanned out-of-town retail development on the vitality and viability of centres in the catchment area of the proposal. PPS4 gives local authorities powers to refuse planning permission where there is clear evidence that the proposal is likely to lead to significant adverse impacts.
	We are committed to reforming the planning system and returning power to local communities to shape the development in their areas. To this end, we announced on 21 December 2010 that we will publish and present to Parliament a simple and streamlined National Planning Policy Framework covering all forms of development, including retail development, by April 2012. We are currently inviting individuals and organisations to submit their suggestions to the Department on what priorities and policies we might set out in the framework.

Supporting People Programme

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes were made to the allocation of the Supporting People Grant to local authorities between 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Grant Shapps: In 2009-10 the Supporting People Programme Grant was paid to the 152 "top-tier" local authorities under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, as an unringfenced named grant. The national budget in that year was £1.666 billion.
	In addition, those local authorities also received a separate Supporting People Administration Grant, which was paid as a contribution towards the cost of administering the Supporting People programme. The national budget was £3.5 million.
	In 2010-11 the Supporting People Programme Grant has been paid as part of the Area Based Grant and the national budget is £1.636 billion. The £30 million Supporting People Administration Grant for 2010-11 was removed as part of the savings set out in the Secretary of State's written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 15-17WS.

Sustainable Development

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition of presumption in sustainable development his Department uses.

Greg Clark: Planning Policy Statement 1: 'Delivering Sustainable Development' contains national policy on the sustainable development principles to be pursued through the planning system.

Vacant Land

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of reinstating the sequential approach to planning in order to protect greenfield sites.

Bob Neill: The sequential approach set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 3, published in 2000, put a strong emphasis on the allocation and use of brownfield sites before any other land. However, it also recognised that in some circumstances such sites may not be ready for development, and so the policy set out criteria against which other housing sites should be considered. It did not rule out the use of greenfield sites. The current policy, in Planning Policy Statement 3, published in 2006, whilst not retaining the sequential approach, continues to prioritise previously developed land for development.
	We have announced our intention to streamline all national planning policy, including housing policy, into one document-the National Planning Policy Framework-to ensure it is fit for purpose. My Department has invited individuals and organisations to put forward their ideas on the priorities and policies we might adopt to produce a shorter, more decentralised and less bureaucratic national policy.

HEALTH

Ambulances: Testing

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of ambulances which failed MOT tests in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect centrally information on the number of ambulances that have failed MOTs.
	It is for national health service ambulance services locally to ensure that all their operational vehicles adhere to safe road usage conditions and legislation, which would include the compulsory MOT test of motor vehicles.

Blood Diseases: Health Services

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the ability of people diagnosed with  (a) sickle cell anaemia and  (b) thalassaemia to access the welfare system, including cold weather payments and free prescriptions; if he will assess the merits of increasing the assistance available to such people to access the welfare system; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department is clear that the most vulnerable, including those with health conditions and disabilities, should be protected. Benefit entitlement is not based on an individual's diagnosis or the nature of their particular disabling condition, but whether a person meets the entitlement conditions set down in the legislation.
	From October 2008 the current range of incapacity benefits (incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and income support where paid on the grounds of incapacity/disability), was replaced for new claimants with the employment and support allowance (ESA). The approach is based on the principle that a health condition or disability should not automatically be regarded as a barrier to work. We know that people with the same diagnosis can have very different effects in terms of their ability to work; therefore entitlement to ESA is based on the functional effects of an individual's condition rather than the condition itself.
	Jobcentre Plus offers support, including assistance in making benefit claims, to customers across all working age benefits before they are referred to the Work programme. From 4 April, the support that Jobcentre Plus delivers to customers will be more flexible. Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers will be able to judge which interventions will help individual customers most cost effectively whilst meeting local need.
	Additionally in October 2010 we launched Work Choice, a new pan-disability supported employment programme for disabled people. Accessed primarily through Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers, Work Choice provides an improved customer experience through tailored support. It targets those customers who face the most complex barriers in reaching or retaining employment, including self-employment.
	Cold weather payments are targeted at those most vulnerable to the cold; older people in receipt of pension credit, disabled adults and children and families with children under five who are in receipt of an income-related benefit. These are individuals who spend more time in doors and often have restricted mobility because of age or disability. We do not record the type of illness or disability a disabled adult or child has for the purposes of cold weather payments.
	As part of the spending review the cold weather payment was permanently increased from £8.50 a week to £25 a week. During the recent extreme cold spell over 17 million cold weather payments were made at an estimated cost of £428 million.
	The extensive exemption arrangements we have in England currently mean that around 90% of all prescription items (in 2009) are already dispensed free of charge and around 60% of the English population do not pay prescription charges due to:
	age (under 16 or 60 or over)
	receipt of a qualifying income-related benefit (e.g. income support)
	qualifying under the NHS Low Income Scheme (provides help with health costs, including free prescriptions, based on a means tested assessment. The NHS Low Income Scheme is available to anyone who has capital below the specified limits).
	having a specified medical condition, and holding a medical exemption certificate (the list of specified medical conditions is very limited. It does not include sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia).
	The current prescription charge is £7.20. Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) offer savings to those who must pay for their prescriptions and need them frequently. A three-monthly prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) is £28.25. A 12-month PPC is £104.00 and saves money if more than 14 items are needed in 12 months. PPCs can be purchased by 10 monthly direct debit instalment payments. PPCs allow anyone to obtain all the prescriptions they need for £2 per week.
	When taking PPCs into consideration, 94% of all prescription items dispensed are not charged for at the point of dispensing.

Blood: CJD

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to bring into use the blood test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease developed by the Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London;
	(2)  if he will put in place a timetable to bring into use the blood test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease developed by the Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London.

Anne Milton: The potential for future use of the prototype diagnostic blood test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) described in the paper published in  The Lancet on 3 February 2011 for blood screening purposes will be considered by the United Kingdom Blood Services Prion Working Group (PWG). Professor John Collinge and colleagues from the Medical Research Council Prion Unit met with members of the PWG on 14 February 2011 and discussed the test. It was agreed that the assay would require further development to make it suitable for large throughput blood donor screening. An important next step is to establish how specific the assay is, and blood samples from non-UK sources are being organised to facilitate this assessment.
	Consideration of the potential use of the test for diagnostic purposes, as described in the paper, is ongoing.
	There is no fixed timetable to bring the blood test into use as it is dependent on the outcomes of further test development and evaluation by the research team.

Cancer Drugs Fund

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which non-drug technologies will be recognised in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Paul Burstow: We have consulted on our plans for the design of the Cancer Drugs Fund and our consultation closed on 19 January.
	The consultation made clear that the fund is to be focused on access to cancer drugs. The consultation asked for views on whether the national health service should have some flexibility in application of the Fund to cover the funding of other treatments that may not be considered conventional drugs, for example radiopharmaceuticals for cancer.
	Decisions on the implementation of the Cancer Drugs Fund will be taken once the responses to the consultation have been fully considered.

Cancer Drugs Fund

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each strategic health authority area have applied for funds from the interim Cancer Drugs Fund  (a) in total and  (b) for selective internal radiation therapy; and how many applicants have been (i) granted and (ii) denied funding.

Simon Burns: As at 10 January 2011, the most recent date for which figures are available, strategic health authorities (SHAs) had received around 1,000 applications for funding under the arrangements for the additional £50 million made available to the national health service for additional cancer drugs on an interim basis in this financial year. Of these, applications for over 750 patients had been agreed with most of the remaining applications under consideration.
	We do not hold a breakdown of these applications by SHA, or the number of applications made for funding of selective internal radiation therapy.

Cancer: Drugs

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received any evidence that the cancer drugs fund has been used to fund anything other than cancer drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: We are not aware of the interim cancer drugs funding for this financial year being used to fund anything other than cancer drugs, including radiopharmaceuticals.
	Arrangements for the cancer drugs fund that will operate from April 2011 will be set out shortly.

Care Homes: Standards

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of care homes in each region which do not meet the national minimum standards of care.

Paul Burstow: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England and is responsible for assuring that providers of health and adult social care meet essential levels of safety and quality. Until 30 September 2010, CQC inspected and regulated care homes according to the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and associated national minimum standards (NMS).
	The care homes regulations and NMS were revoked when the new registration system for private and voluntary health care and adult social care providers, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, came into effect on 1 October 2010.
	Under the new registration system, all providers of regulated activities must be registered with CQC and meet on an ongoing basis a set of registration requirements that set out essential levels of safety and quality.

Carers

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the effectiveness of the coordination of the systems which carers use to look after the finances and wellbeing of the disabled people they care for in order to establish the feasibility of introducing a simplified single system.

Paul Burstow: The feasibility of introducing a simplified single system which carers use to look after the finances and wellbeing of the disabled people they care for, is under consideration by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) through their Right to Control pilot scheme.
	Enshrined in the Welfare Reform Act in 2009, Right to Control aims to provide disabled people, entitled to eligible services, with greater choice and control over how public money is spent to meet their individual needs and ambitions.
	Since December 2010, the pilot scheme is being tested in five trailblazing local authority areas, with two more sites to come on stream in the spring. During the trail blazers, disabled people accessing the Right to Control will be informed how much money they are eligible to receive for their support. They will be able to choose, in consultation with the public authority delivering a particular funding stream, how that money will be used to meet agreed outcomes.
	The pilots are due to run until December 2012. They will be fully evaluated with a view to making a decision on whether and how the Right to Control should be rolled out nationally. A final report is expected in the spring of 2013.

CJD

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the RelyOn prion inactivator has been tested and cleared for use as an adjunct to disinfection; whether his Department has recommended RelyOn use in sterilisation units; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Representations on technologies to improve hospital infection control and reduce hospital acquired infections such as the RelyOn prion inactivator product are submitted to the Department's Rapid Review Panel (RRP) for consideration.
	The product was first submitted to the RRP in 2007 and in 2008, based on initial detailed RRP feedback, the product was re-submitted where it was awarded a Recommendation 2, indicating the product had potential, but that more work was needed.
	In April 2010 the product manufacturer accepted an offer from the RRP to work with an infection control specialist to provide advice on improving the manufacturer's submission so that the product might potentially achieve an RRP Recommendation 1, which would enable the product to be considered for use in the national health service.
	This work concluded with a report establishing the gaps within the company's RRP application, together with advice on improving the application, in September 2010. It is now for the manufacturer to address the issues raised in the report and consider whether they wish to resubmit the product to the RRP for further consideration. No such further application has been received to date.

CJD

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which official committees are to advise the Government directly or indirectly on variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following the dissolution of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee; and what the membership is of each.

Anne Milton: Following the dissolution of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, its role in providing risk assessment advice on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (including variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) will pass to the existing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP).
	An appointments exercise is currently in progress to appoint additional ACDP members with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies expertise. The current ACDP membership is as follows:
	Professor George E. Griffin
	Dr Judith Hilton
	Professor Colin Howard
	Professor William Irving
	Ms Karen Jones
	Mr John Keddie
	Professor Dominic Mellor
	Dr Philip Minor
	Professor Armine Sefton
	Mr Gordon Sutehall
	Professor the hon. Richard Tedder.

Clinical Physiologists: Regulation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effect which the statutory regulation of clinical physiologists would have on safe and effective practice.

Anne Milton: The Command Paper "Enabling Excellence" laid before Parliament on 16 February 2011 sets out the Government's overall strategy for the regulation of health care workers in the United Kingdom and social workers and social care workers in England. It makes clear that the extension of statutory regulation to currently unregulated professional or occupational groups, such as the health care science workforce, will only be considered where there is a compelling case on the basis of a public safety risk and where assured voluntary registers are not considered sufficient to manage this risk.
	A robust evidence-based cost-benefit risk analysis will be undertaken to inform the appropriate model of regulation for the health care science workforce, including clinical physiologists which will take into account safe and effective practice and public protection.

Diabetes: Brighton

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) adults and  (b) children in the Brighton and Hove primary care trust use an insulin pump.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect information on the uptake of insulin pumps at a local level. However, NHS Diabetes and the NHS Information Centre for health and social care recently published the findings of an audit to assess the provision of insulin pump services across England. The insulin pump audit is available via the National Diabetes Information Service.

Diabetes: Brighton

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Brighton and Hove primary care trust area have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Paul Burstow: Data on numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes is collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit (NDA).
	Participation in the NDA is not mandatory and Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (PCT) area had only partial participation in the 2008-09 NDA, which is the last year for which figures are available. The NDA collated data on 6,658 persons with diabetes in Brighton and Hove PCT. Of these, 911 had Type 1 diabetes. It is estimated that there are approximately 13,000 people with diabetes in Brighton and Hove PCT. This estimate uses the PBS Diabetes Population Prevalence Model Phase 3 (PBS3 model), developed by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory.

Dichloromethane

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) injuries and  (b) fatalities attributed to the use of products containing dichloromethane in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	Dichloromethane is a widely-used solvent, which can have narcotic effects at high concentrations.
	A research report prepared for the European Commission identified 18 deaths and 56 non-fatal injuries relating to use of paint strippers containing this solvent across Europe between 1989 and 2007. These included, in the UK, one incident in 1999 which resulted in two deaths in a paint stripping facility, a death in 2002 involving a professional decorator and another fatality in 2006 of a self-employed furniture restorer. In the latter two incidents an additional 16 people were hospitalised.
	Separate HSE statistics show five non-fatal injuries to employees and two non-fatal injuries to members of the public reported between 2001-02 and 2009-10.

Donors: Bexleyheath

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of  (a) blood and  (b) organ donors registered in the London Borough of Bexley.

Anne Milton: The available information is as follows:
	Within Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, there are 1,912(1) individual blood donors, who made a donation in 2010, and 22,596(2) people who are registered on the organ donor register.
	(1) Individual donors are recorded as those that donated blood at least once in the 12-month period.
	(2) As at 16 February 2011.
	 Source:
	NHS Blood and Transplant.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 612W, on NHS rehabilitation, what the equivalent figures are for  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 1999-2000.

Anne Milton: Data in the form requested are not available prior to 2008-09.
	The total number of people receiving drug treatment was estimated to be 118,500 in 2000-01. National Drug Treatment Monitoring System figures show the numbers in treatment in 2004-05 to be 160,453 and 206,889 in 2009-10.

Drugs: Safety

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on the use of unlicensed medicines that do not demonstrate any additional clinical benefits for patients in a disease area where a licensed medicine exists and has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence;
	(2)  what procedures are in place to ensure the safety of medicines provided on the NHS;
	(3)  what medicine safety requirements apply to pharmaceutical companies seeking to secure a licence for a medicine.

Simon Burns: Unlicensed medicines are used within a professional and medicines legislative framework. Unlike licensed medicines, unlicensed medicines are not required to be assessed for safety, quality and efficacy. Therefore, for public health reasons their supply is limited by law to where there is a special need of an individual patient. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) interprets special need to be the clinical need of the individual patient that cannot be met by an available equivalent licensed product; cost and convenience are not considerations. Current General Medical Council ethical guidance on the use of unlicensed medicines states a doctor should always consider using a licensed medicinal product in the first instance. Such decisions need to be made in discussion with the patient concerned. Most, if not all, national health service trusts have established policies controlling the use of unlicensed medicines as it is considered that prescriber liability is significantly increased in such situations.
	Medicinal products are regulated by a system of licensing defined in European Union legislation. Before approval of a licence, new medicines are required to demonstrate acceptable standards of safety, quality and efficacy such that the benefit/risk consideration for use of the product in the claimed indication is positive. The MHRA acts on behalf of the UK Licensing Authority to approve new national marketing authorisations in the United Kingdom.
	Prior to licensing, new medicines undergo clinical trials to determine their efficacy and safety profile. These trials are in a carefully controlled sample of the intended treatment population. Because there is a gap between what is known at the time of licensing from clinical trials and what will happen in the 'real world' once larger numbers of patients in the target population start using the medicine, the safety of all medicines after licensing is monitored.
	It is a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to develop risk management plans for all newly licensed medicines. This uses all available data at the time of licensing to identify what is and is not known about the safety of the medicine, to plan what may need to be done to extend safety knowledge and to propose measures to minimise any known risks to patients.
	Once a medicine is marketed, the MHRA keeps all medicines authorised in the UK under close and continuous scrutiny using a number of robust procedures and a wide variety of data sources. These include spontaneous adverse drug data received from health care professionals and patients through the UK's Yellow Card Scheme, from clinical trials and epidemiological studies, worldwide published medical literature, data from the manufacturer and information from worldwide regulatory authorities. If a new safety issue is identified action is taken where appropriate to minimise risk to patients, optimise safe use and issue updated prescribing advice.

Drugs: Waste Disposal

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the quantity of pharmaceutical products disposed of unused by the NHS as a result of them reaching their expiry date in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The Department commissioned research from the York Health Economics Consortium and the School of Pharmacy at the university of London, the findings from which were published in the report, 'Evaluation of the Scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines' on 23 November 2010. That research did not specifically assess the quantity of pharmaceutical products disposed of unused by the national health service in primary and community care as a result of them reaching their expiry date, separate to other causes.

General Practitioners

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the attendance list was for his Department's event for GP pathfinders held on 26 January 2011; and with which organisation each attendee is affiliated.

Simon Burns: The Department is unable to release the attendance list as it is deemed personal information and doing so would breach the first data protection principle of the Data Protection Act. However, the following organisations and pathfinders were represented at the Pathfinder Learning Network Event on 26 January 2011:
	Basingstoke Consortia
	Bassetlaw Commissioning Organisation
	Baywide GPCC Ltd
	Bracknell Health Commissioning
	Bucks PCT/BCC
	Bucks Primary Care Collaborative
	Cambridge Association to Commission Health
	Coastal West Sussex Federation
	County Durham and Darlington Consortium
	Cumbria Senate
	Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Pathfinder GPCC
	Department of Health
	Doncaster GP Commissioning
	Dudley GP Commissioning Consortium
	Ealing Commissioning Consortium (ECC)
	East Suffolk Federation
	Eastern Cheshire Commissioning Consortium
	Fleetwood Community Commissioning Group
	Fortis GPCC
	Great West Commissioning Consortium
	Guildford and Waverley Consortia
	HealthEast
	Herefordshire GP Commissioning Consortium
	Hundreds Health-Salford
	Hunts Health
	Ipscom
	Kingston Consortium
	Langbaurgh
	Manchester (North, Central and South)
	NAPC
	National Clinical Network
	Nene Commissioning
	Newcastle Bridges
	Newham Health Partnership
	NHS Alliance
	NHS Cambridge
	NHS East Midlands
	NHS East of England
	NHS London
	NHS North East
	NHS North West
	NHS Nottinghamshire City
	NHS South Central
	NHS South East Coast
	NHS South West
	NHS Trafford
	NHS West Midlands
	NHS Yorkshire and Humber
	North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus
	North East Lincolnshire Commissioning Consortium
	North West Sussex Association of Commissioning Consortia
	Oxfordshire Consortium
	Principia
	Redbridge Consortia
	SE Hampshire Pathfinder Project
	Sentinel CIC
	South Birmingham Integrated Commissioning Consortium
	South Gloucestershire Consortium Ltd
	South Reading Consortia
	Southwark Health Commissioning Consortium
	Stockport Managed Care Pathfinder
	Surrey Heath Commissioning Group
	Sutton Consortium
	Thames Medical
	The Practice plc
	The Red House Group of Practices
	Trafford Consortia
	United Commissioning
	West Cheshire Health Consortium
	Wirral GP Commissioning Consortium
	Wirral NHS Alliance
	WyvernHealth.Com

General Practitioners

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many newly-established GP commissioning consortia are commissioning health care; and how many he expects to be doing so by  (a) April 2011 and  (b) April 2012.

Simon Burns: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, general practitioner (GP) commissioning consortia will be authorised from April 2012 and will take on full responsibility for commissioning health care from April 2013.
	The Department has established a rolling programme of GP consortia pathfinders. These are groups of GP practices who want to move more quickly to take on additional duties under existing arrangements but in line with the greater responsibilities outlined in 'Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps'. There are currently 141 pathfinder consortia in place covering around 28.6 million people across the country.

General Practitioners

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has  (a) sought and  (b) received on the effects of GP commissioning on hospitals.

Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" was published in July 2010 and set out our long-term vision for the national health service. Shortly after, we set out further details of our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner practices in "Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for Patients", with the consultation on these proposals running from July to October last year.
	In December, we published our response to the consultation in "Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps" setting out our plans in further detail. This document set out a full analysis of the responses to the consultation and how our proposals were modified in light of the consultation.
	All of these documents have already been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what timetable funds will be allocated to GP commissioning fund holders by the NHS Commissioning Board.

Simon Burns: The NHS Commissioning Board will take over responsibility for commissioning guidelines and the allocation of resources from the Department from 2013-14.
	Shadow allocations for general practitioner (GP) consortia will be published late 2011 for 2012-13. Actual allocations for GP consortia will be made late 2012 for 2013-14.

General Practitioners: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place for GP commissioning fund holders to carry over financial surpluses  (a) in each financial period and  (b) at each year end.

Simon Burns: The financial regime for general practitioner consortia is still under development. The issue of carrying forward financial surpluses will be determined as part of the design of the financial regime.

General Practitioners: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what level of autonomy over what time period GP commissioning fund holders will have over investment decisions;
	(2)  what his policy is on the regulation of financial returns arising from investments made by GP commissioning fund holders; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: General practice (GP) commissioning consortia will receive annual funding allocations from the National Health Service Commissioning Board. Under the legislation proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill, commissioning consortia will not have powers to invest. GP consortia will have no additional powers, beyond those currently held by primary care trusts (PCTs), to raise additional income. PCTs currently have powers as conferred by section 7(2)(a), (b) and (e) to (h) of the Health and Medicines Act 1988, which include the ability to develop and exploit ideas and exploit intellectual property, to provide instruction and to acquire land by agreement.
	Consortia may only use these income-generating powers to the extent that it does not significantly interfere with the performance of their functions and any income generated may only be used to improve the health service.

General Practitioners: Freedom of Information

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP commissioning consortia will be defined as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Simon Burns: Commissioning consortia established in accordance with the provisions proposed by the Health and Social Care Bill would be statutory public bodies. The Bill amends the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to incorporate commissioning consortia.

Health Professions: Regulation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to consult on the regulation of healthcare professionals.

Anne Milton: The Government's strategy on professional regulation in health and social care is set out in the command paper "Enabling Excellence: Autonomy and Accountability for Health and Social Care Staff which was laid before the House on 16 February 2011.
	A detailed analytical strategy paper was published alongside the command paper which sets out details of the proposed approach to public engagement. The analytical strategy is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_124359

Health Services: Closures

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel in advising on the proposed closure of local health services.

Simon Burns: As an advisory non-departmental public body, the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) is required to produce an annual business review of its activities and interactions with its sponsor, the Department of Health, including an assessment of achievements against objective and performance targets. Copies of the IRP's business reviews can be found on its website at:
	www.irpanel.org.uk/view.asp?id=91

Health Services: Closures

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for consultations on decisions to close local health services.

Simon Burns: The Government's policy is that any significant changes proposed by national health service bodies to the operation or delivery of services, such as the proposal to close a service, must first undergo rigorous patient and public engagement. Evidence of strengthened local patient and public engagement is one of the Secretary of State's four tests for service reconfiguration. Commissioners should ensure that patients, the public, local authorities and other relevant groups, such as Local Involvement Networks (or HealthWatch subject to legislation from April 2012), are involved in the development and consideration of proposals for significant service change.

Health Services: Freedom of Information

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies that will provide NHS services under his proposals for NHS reform will be covered by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Simon Burns: As now, all public bodies in the national health service will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Act does not apply to private or voluntary sector providers.

HealthWatch England

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been allocated to the Care Quality Commission to fund National Healthwatch in each of the next four years.

Simon Burns: Subject to parliamentary approval, HealthWatch England will be established as a statutory committee of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We are discussing with the CQC future funding for HealthWatch England.

Heart Diseases: Health Services

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems he plans to put in place to ensure that consistency of specialist care for heart patients is maintained.

Simon Burns: Subject to the Health Bill successfully completing its passage through Parliament, the NHS Commissioning Board will be established from April 2012 and responsible for commissioning certain services that cannot solely be commissioned by general practitioner consortia including national specialised services and regional specialised services set out in the Specialised Services National Definitions Set. Some heart services are included within this definitions set such as heart transplants and congenital heart disease services.
	The Specialised Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Services Definition set can be found at:
	www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/library/26/Specialised_Cardiology_and_Cardiac_Surgery_Services_adult.pdf
	Services commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board will be commissioned on the basis of national standards.

Herbal Medicine: Regulation

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken on the regulation of herbal practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement issued on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 83-85WS.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has asked the Health Professions Council to establish a statutory register for practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines.

Hospices: Children

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider reallocating to children's hospices the remaining £11 million of the £30 million fund made available in 2010-11 for children's palliative care projects.

Anne Milton: The £19 million of the £30 million allocated to children's palliative care projects will directly benefit children and their families, improve services and make them more nationally equitable and accessible. All applicants were rigorously assessed by an Independent Advisory Panel and over 95% of applicants were successful in receiving funding. The £11 million that was unallocated has been returned to central finance and will be with ministerial approval, used to resources other priorities.
	Since 2006, the Department has allocated £47 million to the sector through the children's hospice and hospice at home service. A review of palliative care funding, to promote choice, sustainability and improved outcomes in the sector is also being undertaken. It will report in the summer. The Department has committed to providing £10 million a year beyond 2011 to support children's hospices during the transition to the new funding scheme.

Hospital Beds

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients admitted to hospital in  (a) Devon and  (b) England who are medically fit for discharge that spend an additional (i) day, (ii) two days, (iii) three days, (iv) four days, (v) five days, (vi) six days or (vii) a week or longer in hospital in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people who are medically fit to be discharged but are delayed in hospital has never been collected because the essential business needs of the Department cannot justify the additional administrative burden on the bodies that would have to provide the data.
	The Department collects and routinely publishes information on delayed transfers of care. These data include people medically fit to return to the community as well as people awaiting transfer to other health facilities for further treatment, but do not separately identify them. The most recent data are for December 2010, and that for Devon (people normally resident in Devon who experience a delayed transfer of care in any national health service hospital), and for England are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Delayed transfers of care, local authorities, England: Number of patients with a delayed transfer of care at midnight on the last Thursday of the reporting period 
			   Acute  Non-acute  Total 
			 Devon 63 44 107 
			 England 2,011 1,870 3,881 
		
	
	
		
			  Delayed transfers of care, local authorities, England: Number of delayed days during the reporting period 
			   Acute  Non-acute  Total 
			 Devon 1,982 1,026 3,008 
			 England 59,212 53,726 112,938 
			  Note: Information on the numbers of people delayed on the last Thursday of the reporting period and the total number of delayed days are not directly comparable because the first is a 'snapshot' and the second a cumulative total.  Source: Acute and Non-Acute Delayed Transfers of Care: Monthly situation Report on Acute and Non-Acute Delayed Transfers of Care by NHS Provider and Local Authority: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics

Hospitals: Consultants

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to prevent NHS employers from reducing the standard amount of protected time hospital consultants have per week for supporting professional activities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that hospital consultants have at least 10 hours of protected time a week for supporting professional activities; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The consultants' contract ensures that senior doctors' time is used in the best interests of patients, by providing flexibility in job planning agreements between individual doctors and trusts. Job plans are agreed in partnership between individual consultants and their employers, and should be consistent with organisation objectives and patient and service needs. Individual job plans should set out the consultant's duties and include the agreed split of time between direct clinical care, supporting professional activities and other activities. They should be reviewed annually.
	There is no set allocation for supporting professional activities in the contract, but a guide toward a "typical average" of 2.5 programmed activities (or 10 hours) for a full-time consultant. Some consultants may have more; others, including newly qualified consultants, may require and receive less. This flexibility is intentional and the precise number and ratio is a matter for local determination as part of the consultant job planning process.
	The consultants' contract ensures that senior doctors' time is used in the best interests of patients, by providing flexibility in job planning agreements between individual doctors and trusts. The contract fully recognises the value of wider work in the interests of the national health service.

Hospitals: Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) people who volunteered and  (b) hours given by volunteers in NHS hospitals in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected or held centrally. Individual national health service trusts hold the information.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to publicise the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccination during the catch-up programme.

Anne Milton: The Department provides information resources for primary care trusts (PCTs) and health care professionals to use in the routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for girls aged 12 to 13-years-old. These are available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_114301
	Information for the public is also available on the NHS Choices website at:
	www.nhs.uk/conditions/HPV-vaccination/Pages/Introduction.aspx
	When the HPV vaccination programme against cervical cancer was launched in September 2008 it included a catch-up campaign for girls and young women aged up to 18-years-old. The Department provided information suitable for all relevant age groups, including television and radio advertising, posters and leaflets, some of which was aimed specifically at 17 to 18-year-olds.
	Almost all PCTs completed the catch-up campaign by September 2010 although five PCTs will be completing it in the current school year. No additional material has been centrally produced for these PCTs.

Incontinence: Disability

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the provision of incontinence pads to disabled people with incontinence.

Paul Burstow: There has been no recent guidance on the provision of incontinence pads to disabled people with incontinence.
	Good practice in continence services guidance, published on 19 April 2000, included model principles for continence supplies. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services: Offenders

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds he plans to allocate to fund mental health assessments at courts and police stations as part of the planned National Diversion Service.

Paul Burstow: Ministers will consider the full assessment of the potential costs, benefits and impact of national health service-led commissioning on existing diversion services which has now been made, and funding decisions will follow.

Mental Health Services: South West

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce a mental health strategy for the South West.

Paul Burstow: There is no intention to publish a south-west mental health strategy. We published 'No Health Without Mental Health' on 2 February. It has the twin aims of promoting and sustaining good mental health and well-being in the wider population, and improving the quality of existing services for people across the full range of mental health problems. It looks at prevalence of problems and effective approaches at different stages in life, stressing the importance of prevention and early intervention.
	Although a national outcomes strategy it illustrates how local health organisations could make real improvements in quality of life for people with mental health problems.
	Our work with partners, including the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, has made it clear that the context for this strategy is one of great financial pressure; so we have focused on priority areas of improvement while leaving plans and actions to local decision making. So this strategy should inform local planning and local strategies, but not constrain it.

Midwives: Manpower

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions officials in his Department have had with strategic health authorities on the number of student midwife places in the 2011-12 academic year.

Anne Milton: The Department has regular contact with colleagues in strategic health authorities. The number of training places commissioned is one of the many subjects that are discussed.

Midwives: Manpower

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2011,  Official Report, column 759W, on midwives: manpower, if he will publish the Strategic Health Authority reports referred to after they have been signed off.

Anne Milton: It is for each strategic health authority to determine its publication policy for its operating plan once they are signed off at the end of May 2011.

Midwives: Training

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives in each region  (a) were in training in 2010-11 and  (b) he expects to be in training in 2011-12.

Anne Milton: The number of midwives in training varies throughout the academic year as new recruits enter training programmes and others complete their training or leave for other reasons.
	The planned number of midwives entering training in 2010-11 is 2,492-a record level. Plans for 2011-12 training commissions are expected to be finalised by the end of March.

MRSA: Screening

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods of screening against the MRSA bacterium hospitals use; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such methods; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: There are four types of suitable Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening methods. These are:
	1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR test) of nucleic acids (rapid testing);
	2. Rapid enrichment and immunomagnetic/bioluminescent detection;
	3. Chromogenic Agar plating (direct culture); and
	4. Broth enrichment culture followed by agar subculture.
	Decisions regarding what type of test to use either in isolation or combination are made locally based on clinical protocols. The Department has not conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the different screening methods.
	Diagnostic MRSA screening tests for any of these types should be CE marked by the manufacturer according to the safety, quality and performance requirements of the EC in vitro diagnostic devices directive (transposed in to United Kingdom law by the Medical Devices Regulations 2002) before they are placed on the UK market.

National Innovation Centre: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future funding of the NHS National Innovation Centre.

Simon Burns: The role of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (of which the National Innovation Centre is a part) was considered as part of the Department's review of its arm's-length bodies. The report of the review "Liberating the NHS: report of the arm's- length bodies review", published in July 2010, concluded that the Institute did not satisfy the criteria for continuing as an arm's-length body. It recommended that the Institute's functions relating to quality improvement and building capacity should move to the new NHS Commissioning Board.
	Recognising that the Institute is currently funded largely through grant in aid from the Department, the review also recommended that its other functions should be reviewed to see if they could be delivered by alternative models.
	As a result, clause 262 of the Health and Social Care Bill provides for the abolition of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
	The Department is currently engaging with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (including the National Innovation Centre) to review and evaluate its functions, with a view to determining whether opportunities exist for alternative commercial delivery models, and whether or not to stop providing for certain functions altogether.

National Lung Cancer Audit

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the preliminary findings of the National Lung Cancer Audit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to publish the National Lung Cancer Audit; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The National Lung Cancer Audit is an independent national clinical audit supported financially by the Department, and as such does not share its findings with us before publication. Its next report is due to be published at the end of May 2011. We expect local provider organisations to account publicly for what the audit data show about the quality and outcomes of their lung cancer services and seek to improve local services where this is appropriate.

National Lung Cancer Audit

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution he expects the National Lung Cancer Audit to make to the NHS Outcomes Framework; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: On 20 December 2010, we published 'The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12', which will measure the overall progress of the national health service in delivering better health outcomes for patients. The first NHS Outcomes Framework contains outcomes for cancer including 'one-year and five-year survival rates for lung cancer'.
	We expect the proposed NHS Commissioning Board will want to draw on the National Lung Cancer Audit as it begins the process of translating the national outcome goals into outcomes and indicators that are meaningful at a local level, and as it develops other tools to support general practitioner commissioning consortia in delivering improved outcomes for patients.

NHS Commissioning Board: Voluntary Organisations

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the NHS Commissioning Board to engage with  (a) the British Heart Foundation and  (b) other voluntary sector organisations.

Simon Burns: The NHS Commissioning Board will develop effective ways to harness the public and patient voice including from voluntary organisations. When the NHS Commissioning Board is established, it will agree the detail of these arrangements.

NHS Outcomes Framework

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to review the NHS Outcomes Framework.

Simon Burns: On 20 December, we published 'The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12', which set out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to hold the NHS Commissioning Board to account for delivering better outcomes for patients.
	It also set out our commitment to updating the NHS Outcomes Framework annually to ensure that it focuses on the outcomes that matter most to patients and so that it can accommodate new and better indicators as they become available.
	However, in order to measure progress over time, it will be important to maintain the continuity of the indicators in the framework, and so we envisage that only a small number of indicators will change or be refined in any one year.
	Every five years, the Secretary of State will commission an external review of the NHS Outcomes Framework to assess the extent to which the framework is meeting its objectives.

NHS Trusts

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral evidence given by the chief executive of the NHS to the Public Accounts Committee on 25 January 2011, Q88, if he will publish the list of NHS trusts which are unlikely to become foundation trusts.

Simon Burns: Work is currently under way to support delivery of the Government's expectation that all national health service trusts achieve NHS foundation trust status by April 2014. Until the work is finalised, the list of NHS trusts who may be unable to achieve NHS foundation trust status cannot be confirmed.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency intends to publish its final report on its review of regulatory arrangements for unlicensed medicines established under Article 5.1 of European Union Directive 2001/83/EC; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is planning a public consultation exercise to take place later in 2011 on formal proposals for reform of the United Kingdom's national arrangements established under Article 5.1 of Directive 2001/83/EC. The consultation will build on the informal consultation which has taken place with interested parties under the review.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency intends to publish its response to public consultation (MLX 365) on measures to strengthen the medicines' supply chain and reduce the risk from counterfeit medicines; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Following the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA's) consultation (MLX 365) on measures to strengthen the medicines' supply chain and reduce the risk from counterfeit medicines, we are considering how to take these policies forward in the context of the Falsified Medicines Directive, the Government's wider regulation agenda, and the MHRA's continuing commitment to ensuring that the United Kingdom remains a hostile environment for counterfeit medicines. A response will be published in due course.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the report by the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group on earlier access to medicines, when he intends to make a decision on whether the scheme will go ahead; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Government are currently considering proposals on earlier access to medicines. It is expected that we will be able to publish our determination shortly.

NHS: Legal Costs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on litigation proceedings in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Simon Burns: The data to answer this question was supplied by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA). Information on how much the national health service spent on litigation proceedings in each year between 1997 and 2006 is shown in the following table. Data only covers proceedings against members of the NHSLA's schemes.
	
		
			  Payments made by the NHSLA in respect of negligence claims 
			  £000 
			   Clinical claims  Non-clinical claims 
			   Damages  Legal c osts  Damages  Legal  c osts 
			 2006-07 428,460 150,930 11,735 18,379 
			 2005-06 409,278 151,030 12,113 14,904 
			 2004-05 368,453 134,441 21,699 16,445 
			 2003-04 301,328 121,186 655 6,858 
			 2002-03 328,980 117,204 9,608 5,790 
			 2001-02(1) 452,070 96,874 3,049 1,868 
			 2000-01(1) 620,514 251,472 665 301 
			 1999-2000(1) 211,324 66,032 12 25 
			 1998-99(1) (2)345,000 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1997-98(1) (2)41,000 n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1 )The NHSLA took over the financial and claims handling responsibility for all clinical negligence claims from April 2002. Prior to April 2002, the NHSLA operated excess levels and only handled those cases valued at above excess.  (2 )The NHSLA ran its schemes on a reimbursement basis during these years, so the amount recorded reflects the total amount reimbursed in that year to scheme members on claims payments that may have been made in earlier years. The figures do not separate out damages and legal costs so represent the total reimbursed.   Source:  NHSLA

NHS: Private Sector

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treatment carried out by the private sector on behalf of the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The following table shows expenditure by national health service commissioners (primary care trusts) in England on the purchase of NHS treatment from non-NHS bodies for 2009-10, broken down by sector. The total figure in this table is included in NHS (England) Summarised Accounts, which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_119210
	
		
			  Category  £000 
			 Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) 373,058 
			 Other private sector 3,765,513 
			 Voluntary sector 560,445 
			 Other (including local authorities) 2,749,109 
			 Total 7,448,125 
			  Source: Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts 2009-10.

NHS: Productivity

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in measurable productivity in the national health service was in each year between 1997-98 and 2009-10.

Simon Burns: United Kingdom national health service productivity, as measured by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Growth in UK NHS productivity 1998-2008 
			   Percentage 
			 1998 -0.5 
			 1999 0.5 
			 2000 -0.5 
			 2001 1.2 
			 2002 -2.0 
			 2003 -1.6 
			 2004 0.0 
			 2005 0.1 
			 2006 1.6 
			 2007 -0.3 
			 2008 -0.7 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to one decimal place.  2. Productivity estimates for 2009 are not yet available.  3. ONS estimates productivity on a calendar year, rather than financial year basis.   Source:  Penaloza M., Wild R., Hardie M. and Mills K. (2010) Public Service Output, Input and Productivity: Healthcare, Office for National Statistics.

NHS: Reform

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on multi-disciplinary and multi-agency involvement in commissioning under his proposals for NHS reform.

Simon Burns: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" described our plans to establish a comprehensive system of general practitioner (GP) consortia to commission most national health service services, supported by and accountable to a new independent NHS Commissioning Board. We believe that effective GP commissioning will require the full range of clinical and professional input alongside that of local people. Hospital doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals and others all have a vital role to play and a real opportunity to develop services and improve the health outcomes of their local populations. GP consortia will need to ensure that they have access to and draw upon the necessary expertise of those working in health and social care to ensure that they have the most appropriate specialist input into their commissioning decisions.
	The Health and Social Care Bill therefore proposes to place a duty on the NHS Commissioning Board and GP consortia to make arrangements to ensure that they have appropriate advice from professionals with expertise in health. We believe, however, that the Board and consortia should have the freedom and flexibility to decide how best they exercise this duty, rather than rely on rigid prescribed structures.

Obesity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the relationship between activity levels and obesity in the last five years.

Simon Burns: The Department's National Institute for Health Research funds a wide range of research relating to obesity including evaluations of interventions to increase activity levels and decrease sedentary behaviour.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) receives its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge is carrying out work on interventions designed to increase physical activity, and to monitor its impact on health. The unit is also examining the interactions between physical activity and physical fitness in relation to metabolic risk, and whether sedentary behaviour is related to obesity and metabolic risk when the total amount of physical activity is controlled for.
	In 2009, the Department of Health set up an expert group to review existing evidence on the impact of sedentary behaviour, including screen time on obesity, and the impact on health and activity levels. In addition, a separate expert group was set up in 2009 to review the evidence for early years physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Obesity: Surgery

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans for a change to the tariff for metabolic surgery; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The national payment by results tariffs are subject to ongoing development. The Department works with a number of clinical and technical advisory groups that provide advice on the structure and scope of the tariff.
	Draft tariffs are shared with clinicians each year for 'sense checking'. This is a key stage in tariff development, through which any anomalies or perverse clinical incentives can be identified and addressed prior to the publication of the tariff for 'road testing' by the national health service.
	The final tariff for 2011-12 was published on 18 February 2011 and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_124356

Patients

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that appropriate information and support is available to ensure that patient preferences for decision-making organisations are respected.

Simon Burns: Our vision for health and adult social care as set out in the White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" emphasises the importance of people's access to the information they need to stay healthy, to take decisions about and exercise more control of their care and to make the right choices for themselves and their families. We have recently concluded two separate consultations on the action required to make this vision a reality-'Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution'; and 'Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control'-and have received valuable feedback from organisations, professionals, patients and service users. We are analysing the responses. The analysis will be used to help determine how best to equip patients, as well as those providing care, with the information and support they need to access appropriate health and care services.

Patients

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that the NHS Commissioning Board and GP consortia demonstrate patient and carer involvement in service  (a) commissioning,  (b) design and  (c) development.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill places a duty on general practitioner (GP) consortia and the NHS Commissioning Board to ensure that people who receive a service are involved in its planning and development, and to promote and extend public and patient involvement and choice.
	However, we do not plan to prescribe the precise mechanisms by which the Board or consortia need to engage with the public. We want to ensure that the focus is on developing behaviours and cultures that will encourage and facilitate public involvement and patient voice in the commissioning and development of health services.

Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) predicted and  (b) observed prescribed number of defined daily doses of treatment for post-menopausal osteoporosis was in each primary care trust in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The following tables show the expected estimated number of defined daily doses at primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) level for medicines for the treatment for post-menopausal osteoporosis. These estimates have been derived by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) from its costing template for the relevant technology appraisal and have been updated, where possible, to take into account the most up-to-date and robust information available. These figures do not represent NICE'S view of desirable maximum or minimum figures. Furthermore, the estimated use in PCTs is based on national assumptions and scaled down to approximate numbers at PCT level. It does not take account of any local variations, such as varying prevalence of osteoporosis and socioeconomic compositions.
	The following tables also show the actual use observed for 2009 in prescriptions written in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom.
	Predicted and observed use may differ for a variety of reasons and should not be assumed to indicate either 'under' or 'over' prescribing.
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  PCT  Predicted defined daily doses( 1)  Observed defined daily doses in 2009( 2) 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 1,203.1 1,485.0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 486.6 1,192.6 
			 Barnet 1,178.7 1,757.4 
			 Barnsley 954.8 1,458.9 
			 Bassetlaw 464.6 720.3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 760.2 1,914.5 
			 Bedfordshire 1,577.4 1,534.9 
			 Berkshire East 1,303.2 1,205.8 
			 Berkshire West 1,598.3 884.9 
			 Bexley Care Trust 843.8 2,275.1 
			 Birmingham East and North 1,462.0 1,591.5 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 516.5 3,531.7 
			 Blackpool 597.6 1,179.5 
			 Bolton 1,008.2 3,150.3 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching 1,450.6 1,205.3 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching 1,709.0 3,348.8 
			 Brent Teaching 826.9 1,262.0 
			 Brighton and Hove City 889.4 848.4 
			 Bristol 1,376.5 331.8 
			 Bromley 1,241.5 701.6 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,994.0 913.9 
			 Bury 712.3 2,642.1 
			 Calderdale 801.0 2,363.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,253.8 1,046.9 
			 Camden 568.0 3,603.6 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 1,928.5 1,519.1 
			 Central Lancashire 1,760.2 4,331.1 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 521.3 1,327.3 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 2,608.9 1,411.9 
			 County Durham 2,175.1 880.8 
			 Coventry Teaching 1,142.4 1,027.0 
			 Croydon 1,121.0 1,408.6 
			 Cumbria Teaching 2,350.7 1,553.3 
			 Darlington 415.7 1,336.7 
			 Derby City 1,003.5 654.2 
			 Derbyshire County 3,032.0 2,740.1 
			 Devon 3,630.4 3,298.0 
			 Doncaster 1,219.4 3,531.8 
			 Dorset 2,077.8 1,032.4 
			 Dudley 1,277.3 1,167.7 
			 Ealing 943.9 764.3 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 2,102.7 1,159.5 
			 East Lancashire Teaching 1,492.0 1,349.2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,467.2 3,275.5 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald 1,677.3 1,140.0 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent 3,197.1 1,633.6 
			 Enfield 909.9 2,259.2 
			 Gateshead 815.0 3,292.9 
			 Gloucestershire 2,514.2 533.8 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 1,087.8 817.6 
			 Greenwich Teaching 683.2 1,392.2 
			 Halton and St Helens 1,238.3 1,425.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 455.0 2,577.5 
			 Hampshire 5,411.7 2,346.6 
			 Haringey Teaching 644.2 1,087.8 
			 Harrow 748.0 2,597.9 
			 Hartlepool 363.5 1,932.8 
			 Hastings and Rother 890.6 1,264.7 
			 Havering 1,027.7 2,088.0 
			 Heart of Birmingham 637.8 937.6 
			 Herefordshire 865.5 2,198.3 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale 767.4 3,317.2 
			 Hillingdon 831.4 1,684.8 
			 Hounslow 667.0 1,228.6 
			 Hull Teaching 994.9 1,107.2 
			 Isle of Wight NHS 727.5 2,542.3 
			 Islington 468.2 1,196.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 650.8 898.6 
			 Kingston 559.0 885.8 
			 Kirklees 1,470.9 1,428.5 
			 Knowsley 577.2 4,223.5 
			 Lambeth 673.2 601.1 
			 Leeds 2,709.4 3,586.5 
			 Leicester City 948.3 1,878.6 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland 2,706.8 2,410.8 
			 Lewisham 694.3 1,415.0 
			 Lincolnshire 3,303.7 1,394.5 
			 Liverpool 1,638.9 870.7 
			 Luton 551.0 729.3 
			 Manchester 1,372.3 1,951.4 
			 Medway 973.5 5,601.2 
			 Mid Essex 1,455.1 5,739.9 
			 Middlesbrough 541.5 1,700.1 
			 Milton Keynes 756.8 2,029.2 
			 Newcastle 936.5 1,369.5 
			 Newham 564.9 866.7 
			 Norfolk 3,470.9 2,237.8 
			 North East Essex 1,472.8 2,054.6 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 672.6 4,750.9 
			 North Lancashire Teaching 1,533.5 1,124.4 
			 North Lincolnshire 693.9 1,822.3 
			 North Somerset 943.3 767.2 
			 North Staffordshire 911.1 1,878.8 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching 736.9 1,255.4 
			 North Tyneside 885.9 1,656.5 
			 North Yorkshire and York 3,496.9 1,669.5 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching 2,520.2 1,886.7 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 1,476.7 2,681.0 
			 Nottingham City 872.0 2,253.9 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching 2,725.0 1,979.4 
			 Oldham 825.0 1,297.2 
			 Oxfordshire 2,310.3 900.2 
			 Peterborough 528.5 887.0 
			 Plymouth Teaching 1,008.0 1,151.9 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching 686.8 2,373.1 
			 Redbridge 803.2 1,586.3 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 580.9 1,303.9 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 611.7 891.9 
			 Rotherham 994.7 3,396.3 
			 Salford 800.5 3,012.8 
			 San dwell 1,141.4 2,849.1 
			 Sefton 1,273.5 941.6 
			 Sheffield 1,989.5 1,901.7 
			 Shropshire County 1,367.3 1,227.3 
			 Solihull Care Trust 890.8 1,442.6 
			 Somerset 2,479.7 1,657.5 
			 South Birmingham 1,254.2 1,287.9 
			 South East Essex 1,499.6 1,006.1 
			 South Gloucestershire 944.0 649.7 
			 South Staffordshire 2,491.4 2,880.6 
			 South Tyneside 643.8 1,433.4 
			 South West Essex 1,540.9 1,903.9 
			 Southampton City 788.3 665.0 
			 Southwark 629.4 1,107.4 
			 Stockport 1,174.8 970.9 
			 Stoke on Trent 1,034.0 1,252.9 
			 Suffolk 2,635.5 1,698.5 
			 Sunderland Teaching 1,123.7 971.7 
			 Surrey 4,423.2 1,558.3 
			 Sutton and Merton 1,210.6 880.3 
			 Swindon 690.1 1,403.0 
			 Tameside and Glossop 863.5 1,280.7 
			 Telford and Wrekin 605.7 1,449.2 
			 Torbay Care Trust 719.9 1,240.1 
			 Tower Hamlets 410.5 478.3 
			 Trafford 819.8 2,139.0 
			 Wakefield District 1,357.5 2,892.9 
			 Walsall Teaching 984.3 844.0 
			 Waltham Forest 651.5 678.0 
			 Wandsworth Teaching 726.7 720.2 
			 Warrington 753.8 2,865.0 
			 Warwickshire 2,188.9 1,958.0 
			 West Essex 1,068.6 2,958.5 
			 West Hertfordshire 2,058.7 1,134.8 
			 West Kent 2,717.4 1,716.9 
			 West Sussex 3,664.0 1,563.4 
			 Western Cheshire 1,075.9 1,112.0 
			 Westminster 653.4 1,240.4 
			 Wiltshire 1,935.5 1,571.7 
			 Wirral 1,403.9 2,276.0 
			 Wolverhampton City 919.9 1,175.5 
			 Worcestershire 2,420.4 1,695.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  SHA  Predicted defined daily doses( 1)  Observed defined daily doses in 2009( 2) 
			 East Midlands 17,576 19,754 
			 East of England 23,303 29,851 
			 London 23,005 33,073 
			 North East 10,695 16,776 
			 North West 27,688 38,450 
			 South Central 15,577 19,278 
			 South East Coast 18,432 26,743 
			 South West 23,139 31,565 
			 West Midlands 21,594 26,523 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 20,532 25,108 
			  Source s : (1) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Includes alendronic acid, disodium etidronate, sodium risedronate, strontium ranelate and raloxifene. These figures are estimates only and are not to be taken as the NICE view of desirable, or maximum or minimum figures. They are derived by apportioning the national estimate on the basis of the number of women aged 50 and over registered with general practices in each PCT. (2) Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool (PACT) system Excludes medicines supplied through hospital clinics. It is not possible to identify whether a medicine has been used for the purposes appraised by NICE as these medicines are also used for the treatment of men and pre-menopausal women. Some preparations of sodium risedronate and disodium etidronate are excluded where it was clear from the strength that they were intended for treatment of Paget's disease. For combined products, such as sodium risedronate with calcium carbonate and colecalciferol, any content additional to the drugs in NICE's guidance is excluded.

Respite Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the provision of respite care for families of  (a) profoundly mentally ill people and  (b) physically ill people over the comprehensive spending review period.

Paul Burstow: No specific assessment of the provision of respite care for families of profoundly mentally ill or physically ill people has been made.
	However, the Government's updated Carers Strategy, 'Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy', sets out the overarching priority areas for action over the next four years. This includes the provision of personalised support for carers and those they support, and supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well. This may include carers of people with mental or physical illnesses.
	The Carers' Strategy also identified that £400 million will be made available for carers' breaks over the next four years (2011-12 to 2014-15). This funding will be made available in primary care trust (PCT) allocations. This funding is not ring-fenced so that local government and the national health service have as much discretion as possible, to concentrate resources on local priorities. These funds can therefore be used to provide breaks for all carers, including those supporting people who are mentally or physically ill.
	The 'Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12' makes clear that the additional funding in PCT baselines to support the provision of breaks for carers should be pooled budgets with local authorities to provide carers' breaks. For 2011-12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers' organisations, and make them available to local people.
	The Department for Education announced in December that they are providing over £800 million over the next four years for short breaks for families of disabled children as part of the new Early Intervention Grant. The Government will be providing £198 million/£202 million/£206 million/£210 million for short breaks over the next four years including the Child Trust Fund money of at least £20 million each year. The Early Intervention Grant is not ring-fenced and it will be for local authorities to determine how they use that resource to best effect, including what services would be funded for families with disabled children.

Swine Flu

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the  (a) Northern Ireland Executive,  (b) Scottish Executive and  (c) Welsh Assembly Government on a collective response to swine influenza.

Anne Milton: Discussions with the devolved Administrations at both ministerial and official level are regular and ongoing on all public health issues including swine flu and pandemic planning.

Treatment Centres

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) operations performed by and  (b) minimum payment guarantees issued to each independent treatment centre in each year since 2003.

Simon Burns: The information has been placed in the Library. The following table shows the amounts paid to each independent sector treatment centre compared to the value of the procedures performed for each calendar year to 31 December 2010.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Overseas Aid

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to ensure appropriate scrutiny of the recently announced increase in aid to Burma to reduce the risk of misappropriation of funds.

Alan Duncan: Future UK aid to Burma will continue to be delivered through the United Nations and reputable non-government organisations (NGOs) which have in place stringent monitoring mechanisms. UK funds will not be channelled through the Burmese central Government. Department for International Development (DFID) staff will monitor the delivery of our aid through field visits, direct contacts with beneficiaries, clear reporting requirements for recipient organisations and a close examination of their budgets and annual audited statements.
	UK aid will also be subject to independent evaluations. Large programmes in Burma will have mechanisms that enable beneficiaries to raise concerns and have them investigated.

Central America: Overseas Aid

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department provides to projects in central America with which the charity Casa Alianza is involved.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not provide direct assistance to any projects involving the charity Casa Alianza.
	DFID provides considerable support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which have a child-rights focus and work with vulnerable children globally, including in Central America. This includes UK charities such as Save the Children UK, Plan International UK and World Vision UK. DFID's aim is to ensure that the support provided includes assistance to vulnerable children and young people and addresses the breadth of their needs. This includes children living on the street as well as those living with HIV and AIDS, those who are orphaned, or working in abusive labour conditions.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Debts Written Off

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much debt cancellation for the Democratic Republic of Congo has contributed to UK Official Development Assistance in the latest period for which figures are available, and how much has been transferred from his Department to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of such cancellation.

Stephen O'Brien: The Democratic Republic of Congo reached completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in July 2010 and received its final debt treatment at the Paris Club in November 2010. Following this, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) cancelled all of the £91 million of remaining debt, which will all contribute to the UK's Overseas Development Assistance. No Department for International Development (DFID) contribution to ECGD was required in this case.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for which services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not provide interpretation services, and does not employ an interpreter on a permanent basis. DFID country offices may procure interpretation services, through a provider contracted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Any cost of procuring these services is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID has one non-departmental public body, The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, which does not provide interpretation services.

Departmental Policy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is fully committed to the terms and the spirit of the Compact and strives to ensure that the civil society sector is fully consulted before policy decisions are taken. For example, before designing the new Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF), DFID organised a consultation process seeking views from civil society organisations from around the globe. These views helped shape the final policies and criteria for this new fund.

Gaza: Electricity Supply

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has made to the government of Israel on the supply of electricity to Gaza and its effect on essential services including water supply, sewage treatment and health services.

Alan Duncan: The UK has not made any specific representations to Israel on the supply of electricity to Gaza as we do not see Israeli restrictions on supplies of electricity or fuel as being the main current cause of electricity shortages in Gaza. Israel continues to provide 120 megawatts (MW) of electricity per day directly to Gaza which meets approximately 43% of Gaza's power needs and is paid for by the Palestinian Authority. Egypt provides a further 17MW and the balance of Gaza's power needs (approximately 140MW) should be met by the Gaza power plant. The Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) is now buying diesel fuel, which is sourced via tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, to operate two turbines in the power station to produce 60MW, and has not requested any industrial fuel from Israel since 5 January 2011. The majority of the population still experience power cuts, but these are now four to six hours a day, down from eight to 12 hours per day since mid-December 2010.

International Assistance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking together with other countries to improve the delivery of international aid.

Alan Duncan: 2011 is a crucial year to make international aid more effective. DFID is playing an important role in implementing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. In November, donors and partners will meet at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Korea to decide on further commitments to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. DFID will continue to be an international leader on implementing approaches that increase the effectiveness of aid, and we expect to play an important role in the run up to the High Level Forum. DFID's Business Plan 2011-15 sets out a strong agenda on results, value for money, transparency and accountability; and this will be central to our approach to making aid more effective internationally.

Microfinance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department requires microfinance initiatives to which it contributes funding to produce a strategic plan outlining how the initiative will become sustainable.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding support to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, central banks, government agencies or in partnership with other donors.
	Organisations supported by DFID must submit business plans demonstrating how the initiative will become sustainable and contribute to poverty reduction. Economic, social and institutional appraisals are conducted to assess the feasibility of the business plan. All programmes are reviewed annually to track progress against agreed indicators, and on completion, to evaluate their development impact. For example, DFID's Financial Inclusion Programme (FIP), implemented through the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB), aims to increase the sustainability of the financial sector through capacity building, product development and regulatory reform. FIP also supports the transformation of donor-dependent, unregulated microfinance institutions into regulated microfinance banks and provides guarantees to help them access commercial financing.

Microfinance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which profit-making microfinance organisations his Department provides funding; and what level of support has been provided to each such organisation in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding support to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, central banks, government agencies, or in partnership with other donors. It is therefore not possible to identify profit-making microfinance organisations, which may have benefited from DFID-funded financial sector development programmes without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID is working to increase the sustainability of the commercial microfinance sector. For example, the Financial Inclusion Programme (FIP) in Pakistan is supporting the transition of donor-dependent, unregulated microfinance institutions into stable, regulated microfinance banks and provides guarantees to help them access commercial financing on a sustainable basis.

Microfinance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided for microfinance initiatives in  (a) Eastern and Southern Africa,  (b) West and Central Africa,  (c) North Africa and the Middle East,  (d) South Asia,  (e) Central Asia,  (f) East Asia and the Pacific,  (g) the Caribbean,  (h) Europe and  (i) Latin America in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have any active microfinance programmes in east Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe or Latin America. The requested information for the other regions cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Examples of financial sector development programmes that incorporate DFID's work on microfinance in these regions include:
	Eastern and Southern Africa: The FinMark Trust in Southern Africa and the Financial Sector Deepening Trusts in Kenya and Tanzania which aim to promote access to finance for poor people through identifying and resolving constraints on financial market development.
	West and Central Africa: The Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFinA) programme funded jointly with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Nigeria is supporting the development of a new financial inclusion strategy, the innovation of new financial products, capacity building for financial institutions and research on the use of financial services among poor households.
	North Africa and the Middle East: DFID is supporting a $150 million multi- donor regional programme implemented by the International Finance Corporation in 19 countries and territories in north Africa and the middle east, which includes microfinance initiatives through the Access to Finance component.
	South Asia: DFID's £50 million Financial Inclusion Programme, implemented through the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB), aims to increase the sustainability of the financial sector through capacity building, product development and regulatory reform.

Microfinance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) performance and  (b) client protection requirements his Department places on recipients of financing provided to apex funds for microfinance projects.

Stephen O'Brien: Providing access to stable, sustainable, quality and affordable financial services for the poor is the objective of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) financial sector development programmes, including support for apex institutions. All organisations funded by DFID are reviewed annually to assess their performance against an agreed set of indicators, and on completion, to evaluate their development impact.
	Measures to improve client protection are key criteria of DFID's financial sector development programmes. For example, DFID's Financial Inclusion programme in Pakistan incorporates a comprehensive strategy to safeguard client interests through capacity building for financial institutions, regulatory reform and financial education. DFID also supports the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the multi-donor think tank on microfinance housed in the World Bank, which leads on client protection issues. CGAP has also quantitatively assessed the performance of 34 apex institutions in achieving their original development objectives and in improving the sustainability of microfinance institutions. The research, due for publication in March 2011, will be used to inform DFID's future work with apex organisations.

Microfinance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department provides for graduation programmes; and what proportion such support represents of his Department's total spending on microfinance projects.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports microfinance institutions to become self-sufficient through its broader financial sector development programmes. For example, through its Financial Inclusion Programme in Pakistan, DFID is helping to transform donor-dependent, unregulated microfinance institutions into regulated microfinance banks and supporting their access to commercial funds through guarantees. In Iraq, DFID is supporting the International Finance Corporation's Iraq Business Assistance Facility, which supports the transition of non-profit organizations into for-profit financial intermediaries. DFID also supports initiatives that help people progress out of extreme poverty and access microfinance services. More than 90,000 households which graduated out of extreme poverty in the Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty programme in Bangladesh accessed microfinance services within one year.
	Graduation initiatives are incorporated into broader financial sector development or livelihood programmes. Specific costs associated with graduation can not therefore be meaningfully disaggregated. DFID also does not hold consolidated data on expenditure on microfinance programmes as a proportion of the total overseas aid budget.

Microfinance

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) client protection measures and  (b) monitoring of effects on poverty levels requirements his Department puts upon microfinance organisations in receipt of funding from his Department.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research.
	Protecting the rights of poor clients is an important criteria for financial sector development programmes supported by DFID. For example, DFID's Financial Inclusion Programme in Pakistan incorporates a comprehensive strategy to safeguard client interests through capacity building for financial institutions, regulatory reform and financial education. DFID also supports the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the multi-donor think tank on microfinance housed in the World Bank, which leads on client protection issues. All financial sector development programmes must demonstrate how funding provided by DFID will contribute to poverty reduction. Progress is tracked by indicators such as income, assets, employment and enterprise growth. Programmes are reviewed annually, and on completion, to evaluate their development impact.

Microfinance

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department uses to evaluate the effect of its support to microfinance programmes on the movement of microfinance clients out of poverty.

Stephen O'Brien: Poverty alleviation is at the heart of all financial sector development programmes supported by the Department for International Development (DFID). Indicators such as income, assets, consumption, employment and business growth are used to measure the movement of microfinance clients out of poverty. All programmes are reviewed annually to track progress against these indicators, and on completion, to evaluate their development impact.
	External data are also used to validate the progress or impact of financial sector development programmes on reducing poverty. For example, the DFID-supported FinMark Trust's tracks changes in the income, savings, debt and expenditure of low-income consumers in Southern Africa in its quarterly Consumer Financial Vulnerability Index. DFID has also commissioned a systematic review of the impact of microcredit on poor people; the results of which will be used to inform our future interventions in this area.

Microfinance

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria his Department uses to determine which microfinance organisations receive funding from his Department.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding support to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, central banks, government agencies or in partnership with other donors.
	All organisations must demonstrate how funding provided by DFID will be used to reduce poverty. Economic, social and institutional appraisals are conducted to assess the sustainability of the organisation and the potential development impact of their programme. For example, DFID is funding CHF, an international NGO, to provide access to finance to micro and small enterprises in Basra province, Southern Iraq. CHF was selected based on its track record of delivering small business finance, existing portfolio performance, robust lending practices and experience of building local capacity to manage microfinance programmes. Loans have been provided to more than 1,000 clients since May 2009, with one-third disbursed to women.

Microfinance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department's funding for microfinance projects is co-ordinated with other policies for the purposes of encouraging an environment for microfinance services.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID)'s support for microfinance is part of a comprehensive approach to financial sector development, which aims to provide sustainable, quality and affordable financial services to individuals, households and firms in developing countries. Programmes supported by DFID provide a range of interventions to improve policy and regulation; strengthen the capacity of financial institutions, expand the evidence base on financial inclusion and innovate new financial products that meet the needs of the poor.
	For example, the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFfinA) programme funded jointly by DFID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Nigeria shows how integrated financial sector development creates a strong enabling environment for sustainable microfinance services. EFinA is: (1) supporting the Central Bank to develop a new financial inclusion strategy that includes making microfinance more stable, sustainable and responsive to poor client needs; (2) spurring the development of new financial products, including micro-savings, through grants from its Innovation Fund; (3) providing targeted capacity building for financial institutions including microfinance providers; and (4) conducting research on the supply, demand and use of financial services among poor households.

Overseas Aid

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will review the allocation of funding provided by the previous administration through his Department to UK-based non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and trade unions; and if he will disallow or claw back any funds that are identified as having been inappropriately spent.

Stephen O'Brien: All projects supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) through UK based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations and trade unions, including those supported under the previous Administration, are required to submit annual progress reports including financial reports. These are reviewed and appraised. If, through this process, DFID finds that an organisation had used DFID funds inappropriately, DFID is prepared to take necessary steps to seek reimbursement for any funds provided.
	DFID has already undertaken a comprehensive review of our Building Support for Development (BSD) programme and has ceased funding of some projects.

Pakistan: Floods

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the 2010 floods in Pakistan who are yet to receive aid.

Alan Duncan: There are no official estimates of people who are yet to receive any aid in Pakistan following the devastating flooding in July-August 2010. The United Nations Floods Emergency Response Plan targeted 14 million people and is 64% funded. This means not all projects under the plan will reach all intended beneficiaries. The UK was the third largest contributor to the UN appeal and led efforts to lobby the international community to respond generously to the floods.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID's) team in Pakistan closely monitors the relief and early recovery effort. When isolated communities have been identified as being in dire need of assistance, DFID has lobbied the relevant authorities to undertake more detailed needs assessments and respond as appropriate. DFID has also been an active supporter of organisations working to identify vulnerable populations and takes steps to ensure they receive appropriate aid.

Palestinians: Emigration

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinians who left the Gaza Strip in October 2010 to enter  (a) Israel,  (b) Egypt,  (c) the West Bank and  (d) other countries.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government do not hold comprehensive statistics on the movement of people into or out of Gaza. Gaza has two pedestrian crossing points: at Erez (with Israel) and at Rafah (with Egypt). The World Health Organisation (WHO) report that in October 2010 709 Palestinian patients exited Gaza at Erez for medical treatment. We do not have information on numbers of non-patients exiting through Erez, or their final destinations. The UN reports that approximately 360 people per day were able to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing between June 2010 and January 2011. We do not have information on their final destinations. WHO estimates that an average of 600 Gazan patients per month entered Egypt through Rafah for medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals, between June 2010 and January 2011.

Palestinians: Health Services

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip treated for medical conditions in Israeli hospitals since 1 January 2010.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government do not hold comprehensive statistics on Palestinian medical cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report that in 2010 the Palestinian Ministry of Health's Referral Abroad Department referred 2,443 people to Israeli hospitals, out of a total of 11,791 referrals. We do not have information on the number of these patients who left Gaza for their treatment.

Palestinians: Health Services

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of exit permits Israel issued to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in October 2010 to enable them to receive medical treatment in  (a) Israel,  (b) the West Bank and  (c) other countries.

Alan Duncan: The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that in October 2010 the Israeli District Liaison Office processed 976 Gazan patient applications for permits to enter Israel. Of these, 744 were approved and 709 patients actually left Gaza for treatment; decisions on 211 were delayed and 21 were denied. The difference between total approvals and total patients exiting Gaza is explained by a small number of approvals being granted late in the month, delaying transit until the following month. WHO does not hold details of where these patients were treated.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the EU provided to coexistence projects between Israelis and Palestinians in 2010; and what proportion of EU aid to Israel and the Palestinian territories in that year this represented.

Alan Duncan: According to information provided by the European External Action Service, in 2010 the EU Partnership for Peace Programme spent €10 million supporting local and international civil society initiatives to promote peace, tolerance and non-violence between Arabs and Israelis. This compares to a total of €367 million of EU aid to the occupied Palestinian territories and to Palestinian refugees in the region in 2010. The EU did not provide any official development assistance (ODA) to Israel in 2010.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to the Palestinian Facility for new market development since April 2008.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £3,270,000 to the Facility for New Market Development between 1 April 2008 and 21 February 2011. DFID funding has provided support to 229 small businesses in both Gaza and the west bank, helping to develop 96 new products, improve 54 products and create over 1,130 new jobs.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to provide financial support to the Palestinian Facility for new market development in  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13 and  (c) 2013-14.

Alan Duncan: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly be announcing to the House the outcome of our major root and branch review of bilateral aid which has looked in detail at each country. This review includes our support to the occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestinians: Politics and Government

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what reports he has received on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip since July 2010;
	(2)  what reports he has received on the developmental situation in the Gaza Strip since 18 October 2010.

Alan Duncan: UK ministers and officials regularly discuss the humanitarian and development situation in Gaza with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, UN agencies, other donor countries and organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We remain concerned that Gaza's economy, institutions and civil society are undergoing a process described by the UN as 'de-development'.
	The most comprehensive report we have received since October 2010 is "Dashed Hopes: Continuation of the Gaza Blockade", published by a number of European NGOs in November 2010. This is available at:
	www.oxfam.org.uk
	In addition, we regularly receive reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, including their monthly Humanitarian Monitor and their weekly Protection of Civilians report, available at:
	www.ochaopt.org
	Finally, the Portland Trust publishes a monthly bulletin on the economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, which also covers Gaza. This is available at:
	www.portlandtrust.org

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to support the Big Society initiative.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has participated in discussions with other government departments about the Big Society. DFID is contributing to the initiative in a variety of ways including: through the launch of the International Citizens Service; by working with civil society organisations to support individuals and communities to improve their lives; by helping to increase community engagement in service delivery and poor people's participation in decision-making; and by sharing experience from DFID's work overseas.

Togo: Debts Written Off

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much debt cancellation for Togo has contributed to UK Official Development Assistance in the latest period in which figures are available; and how much has been transferred from his Department to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of such cancellation.

Stephen O'Brien: Togo reached completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in December 2010 and received its final treatment at the Paris Club in the same month. As a result, £14.8 million will be written off and contribute to Overseas Development Assistance. Of this, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) will contribute £3.5 million and the Department for International Development (DFID) the balance of £11.3 million.

UN Women

Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to support the new UN Women Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the creation of UN Women. Baroness Verma represented the UK at the official launch of UN Women on 24 February in New York, and had discussions with Michelle Bachelet, its executive director, beforehand to underline DFID's support. DFID's long-term funding commitments to UN Women will depend on a strategic plan that sets out a clear results framework outlining targets and expected impact. The strategic plan is due in June this year. In the meantime we have offered UN Women transitional funding and a secondment to allow them to set out the strongest possible plans for their work.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Counter-terrorism

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of his Department's counter-terrorism budget is allocated to Afghanistan.

Alistair Burt: Counter-terrorism (CT) is one of the Government's top priorities at home and abroad, with resources devoted by all relevant Government Departments. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) counter-terrorism and radicalisation programme is part of wider Government spending on counter terrorism.
	Our overseas CT priorities are driven by a comprehensive analysis across Government of the threat to the UK and our interests. We are rigorous in ensuring that our CT priorities and projects reflect current analysis of the threat. This means our spending, and our intensive diplomatic efforts, are concentrated in countries and regions such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and East Africa. Given the sensitive nature of our CT activities, however, we cannot provide details of budgets allocated to activity in particular countries.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's expenditure on  (a) counter-narcotics and  (b) rule of law programmes in Afghanistan which was allocated to (i) capital and (ii) current expenditure in each year from 2000-01 to 2011-12.

William Hague: This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

BBC World Service: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely savings to accrue from the BBC World Service ceasing all radio broadcasting in the  (a) Azeri,  (b) Mandarin Chinese,  (c) Russian,  (d) Spanish for Cuba,  (e) Turkish,  (f) Vietnamese and  (g) Ukrainian services.

Jeremy Browne: These decisions were made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in accordance with their managerial independence, as set out in the Broadcasting Agreement between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the BBC World Service. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office therefore does not have the figures for the likely savings from the cessation of these short-wave services.

BBC World Service: Finance

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations on the planned changes to BBC World Service funding have been received  (a) by his Department and  (b) by diplomatic posts overseas to date.

Henry Bellingham: Between 26 January and 15 February 2011, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office received 35 letters from members of the public and MPs about the proposed changes to the BBC World Service and its funding. There have also been 17 written parliamentary questions and one oral question, in addition to the urgent question in the House of Commons and the statement by Lord Howell in the House of Lords. The Foreign Affairs Committee have announced that they will be holding an enquiry into the BBC World Service in March.
	There is no central note of representations received at posts overseas, and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Burundi: Politics and Government

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on  (a) the number of Burundian opposition leaders in exile and  (b) their potential return to Burundi.

David Lidington: The UK works closely with EU and other diplomatic missions to discuss regularly the political situation in Burundi. In the context of the ongoing preparation of the 5th report of Burundi's Peace-Building Framework, the UK and EU diplomatic missions have emphasised the importance of a dialogue being established between the Government and the extra-parliamentary opposition, including those parties whose leaders have left the country. We understand that five leaders of opposition parties left Burundi after the elections.

Burundi: Reconstruction

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to support the post-conflict reconstruction process in Burundi in respect of opportunities for  (a) demobilised soldiers and  (b) unemployed young people.

David Lidington: The UK has provided strong political and programme support to post-conflict reconstruction in Burundi since the end of the civil war in 2003. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has worked closely with the international community to support Burundi in it's return to stability. The UK's aid is currently focused on health, education, access to justice and Burundi's integration into the East African Community. We have engaged closely with the Government of Burundi and international partners in the context of discussions in the UN Security Council, the UN Peace-Building Commission and ongoing in-country dialogue to ensure that the principal hurdles to building a lasting peace are addressed, including the reintegration of demobilised soldiers and actions to improve the employment prospects of unemployed young people.
	The Anglican Archbishop of Burundi recently praised the support of the British Government for their engagement.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government was represented at the inaugural meeting of high-level policy planners from member states at the Council of Europe held on 10 February 2011; and what his position is on the matters discussed.

David Lidington: I welcome this initiative by the Council of Europe to bring together the senior planners from Council of Europe member states for informal discussions and a sharing of ideas. The meeting was organised by the new Council of Europe directorate of policy planning to consider the political, social, economic and cultural changes taking place in Europe and their impact on the strategic mission of the Council of Europe. The Government were represented by Alison Kemp, head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy unit.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's priorities are for the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from November 2011 to May 2012; if the Government will use the chairmanship to promote reform of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: No decisions have been taken yet on UK priorities and objectives for our forthcoming chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The UK is a strong supporter of Secretary-General Jagland's ongoing programme of reform of the organisation.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner has met  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Lidington: The Council of Europe's European Commissioner for Human Rights met one Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister and two senior FCO officials in 2008. The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe exchanges views every three months with the Commissioner and other Permanent Representatives in the context of the Commissioner's presentations of his quarterly reports to the Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the Government's contributions to the Council of Europe and its related institutions in each of the next five years.

David Lidington: Budget negotiations for 2012 and beyond have not started. The Government are committed to ensuring budget efficiency in international institutions and will be active in the negotiations. The need to reduce public spending domestically will be reflected in our negotiating position.

Counter-terrorism

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's programme expenditure on counter-terrorism measures in real terms in each year from 2000-01 to 2011-12.

William Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Counter Terrorism and Radicalisation programme is part of wider Government spending on counter terrorism. Within the framework provided by Contest, it focuses on overseas interventions, including building capacity overseas to help counter the risks to the UK and UK interests from international terrorism.
	The FCO's programme expenditure on counter terrorism increased in real terms each year between 2003-04 and 2009-10, except in 2006-07, as seen in the following table. Comparisons with financial years before 2003-04 are not possible because a separate programme budget for counter terrorism did not exist until 2003-04.
	The current budget of £38 million will be sustained in cash terms for 2011-12, so we are forecasting a slight real terms decrease in expenditure. This will be managed through greater efficiency and a tighter focus in the programme. The FCO is playing its part in reducing the public expenditure deficit, and is ensuring its expenditure on this priority for the UK is spent in an efficient and focused way.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Cash terms  Real terms 
			 2003-04 3,336,832 3,336,832 
			 2004-05 6,990,298 6,801,224 
			 2005-06 7,756,168 7,412,218 
			 2006-07 7,200,000 6,657,037 
			 2007-08 16,300,000 14,650,327 
			 2008-09 35,200,000 30,784,777 
			 2009-10 37,854,164 32,565,437 
			 2010-11(1) 38,000,000 31,707,951 
			 2011-12(1) 38,000,000 30,934,586 
			 (1) Figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are forecasts, based on budgets for these financial years. 
		
	
	Actual expenditure on counter terrorism programmes has been converted into 2003-04 prices using the HM Treasury deflator.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker) on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 853W.

Departmental Pay

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011,  Official Report, column 156W, on departmental pay, if he will provide the information requested in respect of the London living wage.

Alistair Burt: Information relating to sub-contractor pay rates is not centrally held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The provision of information relating to the number of sub-contractor staff who were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Alistair Burt: Regulations are a specific type of statutory instrument. They are very rarely sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
	The FCO sponsored the following Orders in Council, however, which were introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011:
	The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) (Amendment) Order 2010 (Date Made: 15 December 2010)
	The Geneva Conventions (Overseas Territories) Order 2010 (Date Made: 15 December 2010)
	The Iran (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2010 (Date Made: 15 December 2010).

Departmental Responsibilities

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who in his Department is responsible for long-term planning and strategy on Middle East policy.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, supported by myself as Minister for the Middle East, has overall responsibility for this area of policy, drawing on advice from officials including the political director and the director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Developing Countries: Sexuality

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department has allocated to its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender programme in 2010-11; and how many people work on policy areas associated with the programme.

Jeremy Browne: In 2010-11 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contributed £35,989 to a one-year Council of Europe study on the extent of homophobia and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in the Council of Europe member states. This was drawn from a centrally held budget of £18.3 million from 2008 to 2011 for global projects that support and promote a broad range of human rights issues.
	The FCO has one desk officer within its Human Rights and Democracy Department who leads on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as part of a broader portfolio of work. As human rights are integrated across the FCO, country specific desk officers also work on human rights issues, including those related to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, as they arise. We also encourage UK missions overseas to seek out appropriate opportunities to promote human rights and prevent discrimination on any grounds, including due to sexual orientation or gender identity. Posts have discretion to use their own funds to promote these rights through hosting events, working with non-governmental organisations, or supporting local activities. We do not hold a central record of their expenditure on such activity.

Egypt: Elections

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact Ministers and officials of his Department have had with the Government of Egypt since the parliamentary elections in that country in 2010.

William Hague: The first round of Egyptian parliamentary elections was held on 28 November 2010 and the second round was held on 5 December 2010.
	I travelled to Cairo on 4 November 2010, where I held talks with Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit. I also met three leading figures in the ruling National Democratic Party.
	The Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), met his Egyptian counterpart in December 2010.
	I met the Minister for Education, Dr Ahmed Zaki Badr, as did the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), at an Education World Forum reception at Lancaster House on the evening of 10 January 2011.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to President Mubarak by telephone on 29 January 2011, Prime Minister Shafiq on 1 February and Vice President Suleiman on 7 February 2011. On 15 February 2011, he spoke to Egypt's interim leader Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi.
	I spoke to the Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit by telephone on 30 January 2011, 6 February 2011 and again on 13 February 2011. I also spoke to Prime Minister Shafiq on 13 February 2011.
	The Minister responsible for the Middle East and North Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), spoke to the Egyptian ambassador on 13 December 2010 and has been in regular contact with the Egyptian ambassador throughout the period of unrest in Egypt.
	Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and our Embassy in Cairo have met or spoken to Egyptian officials on a frequent basis as part of our normal working relationships.
	In our dealings with the Government of Egypt, Ministers and officials consistently raised concerns about human rights and governance issues and urged the Egyptian Government to lift the state of emergency. Following the November 2010 election, we raised concerns about allegations of vote-rigging and fraud at official and ministerial level in both London and Cairo.

Egypt: Exports

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the recent use by the Government of Egypt of military list equipment sold to it by UK companies; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are not aware of any UK supplied military equipment being used in the recent unrest. However, as with all conflict situations, as a precautionary measure the Government are urgently reviewing all existing applications and those export licences which have already been issued. With immediate effect we revoked three licences, on the basis that they were no longer in line with the criteria. We are in the process of making further assessments.
	We are closely monitoring developments, and will take into account the prevailing circumstances when considering export licence applications. All cases are rigorously assessed case-by-case under the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria which, inter alia, make clear we will not issue licences which will aggravate existing tensions or conflicts in the country of destination, or if there is a clear risk that the export will be used for internal repression.

Egypt: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent change of government in Egypt on the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: Egypt has played an important role in the Middle East peace process and its peace agreement with Israel is vital to regional stability. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, there is now a precious moment of opportunity for the people of Egypt to achieve a stable and democratic future. Field Marshal Tantawi has publicly committed to maintain good relations with Israel and we welcome the statement by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on 12 February 2011 that Egypt would abide by all its regional and international treaty obligations.

Egypt: Politics and Government

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has prepared a policy to deal with any assumption of power by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: We have been clear that the political process in Egypt must be broad-based and include opposition figures to produce real political change. The Muslim Brotherhood is one part of the mosaic of political voices in Egypt and our embassy in Cairo has previously had contact with its members in their positions as elected representatives in the Egyptian parliament. We will continue to have contacts with those members of the Muslim Brotherhood who are, or who are likely to be, part of the political dialogue process in Egypt and who have agreed to operate within that process.
	However, the Muslim Brotherhood has been consistent in its statements that it does not seek power and will not be putting up a presidential candidate in the elections.

Egypt: Politics and Government

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the likely effect on Egypt-Israel relations of the efforts by the Government of Egypt to open dialogue with  (a) the Muslim Brotherhood and  (b) other opposition groups.

Alistair Burt: Egypt is an influential country in the middle east and has played an important role in the Middle East Peace Process as one of only two countries to have a peace agreement with Israel. We hope that Egypt will continue to play a constructive role in the region and maintain good relations with both it's neighbours and the wider international community, including the UK. Field Marshal Tantawi has committed to maintain good relations with Israel and we welcome the statement by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on 12 February 2011 that Egypt would abide by all it's regional and international treaty obligations. This is a positive sign of Egypt's continued commitment to peace with Israel.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, we continue to press the Egyptian Government to give opposition groups a real role in the reform process, through a genuinely broad-based dialogue. The Egyptian Government have begun that dialogue and as part of it, have met the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and other opposition groups who are an important part of Egypt's national political mosaic.

Embassies

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of appointing honorary consuls in capitals where there is no UK diplomatic representation.

Jeremy Browne: We make decisions on where to appoint honorary consuls on the basis of our priority of providing high quality consular support to British nationals. In the first instance we consider factors such as the number of British nationals in the area, or the possibility of a crisis affecting British nationals there. This could lead to the appointment of an honorary consul in a capital without diplomatic representation. Our consular regional directors are in the process of reviewing our honorary consul network, to ensure we have honorary consuls in the right places.

European Union Bill

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to his Department of preparing the European Union Bill.

William Hague: The estimated administrative cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of preparing the European Union Bill is £195,000. This figure comprises the estimated staff costs and administrative costs incurred by those officials engaged full-time to prepare the Bill for publication, and the costs charged to the FCO by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for the same purpose.
	Both the assembly of a team of officials and the use of the services of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, for which a charge is made, are standard practice for Whitehall Departments preparing a Bill. However, no additional government staff have been employed to develop the EU Bill, so there has been no increase in Government spending overall as a result of its development.

Human Rights

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's budget for human rights training and associated programmes will be in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 17 February 2011
	As announced in the written ministerial statement of 1 February 2011, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will spend £5 million on a human rights and democracy programme in 2011-12. This programme is dedicated specifically to supporting human rights projects. However there are a number of other FCO programmes that contribute to the achievement of our human rights objectives. These include: a new fund of £5 million to address the underlying governance and social, economic and political participation issues affecting the Arab world; a £7 million programme in the Overseas Territories; £3.5 million to support the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; £17 million for scholarships; and £19 million for bilateral programmes.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will provide details of programme spending for future years in due course together with further information about how the FCO will ensure that these funds provide the best possible value for the public money.
	Separate to programme budgets, the FCO provides in-depth training to its staff on human rights to ensure they are able to deliver our human rights objectives. In 2011-12 £68,000 has been allocated for this training and is reviewed on an annual basis.

India: Intelligence Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to establish intelligence exchange with officials in the Indian government.

Alistair Burt: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on matters relating to intelligence or national security.

Indonesia: Religious Freedom

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to support  (a) inter-faith dialogue and  (b) the efforts of Muslim civil society organisations to counter extremism and to promote pluralism in Indonesia.

Jeremy Browne: We have worked closely with the Indonesian government and civil society organisations in recent years to support inter-faith dialogue in Indonesia. We have strong links to Muhammadiya and Nahdlatul Ulama, two of the largest independent Islamic organisations in the world, who are working to counter extremism and promote pluralism. We have funded research into religious tolerance trends in the country and are currently supporting community radio stations who are working to give a voice to the mainstream moderate majority and disseminate values of tolerance and respect for fundamental freedoms. We are also supporting efforts to counter extremism in schools across Java.
	We, along with our EU partners, will continue to call for religious tolerance across Indonesia and press the authorities to ensure the rights of all religious minorities.

Indonesia: Religious Freedom

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to raise the recent violent attacks on Ahmadiyyas and Christians in Indonesia with the Indonesian authorities; and if he will urge the Indonesian Government to ensure protection for religious minorities, to promote Indonesia's tradition of pluralism and religious freedom, and to prosecute the perpetrators of violence against minorities.

Jeremy Browne: We regularly raise human rights issues, including freedom of religion, with the Government of Indonesia both bilaterally and through the EU. On 11 February 2011 our chargé d'affaires raised the recent attacks against the Ahmadiyya community and Christian churches in Central Java, with senior officials at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We stressed the need for a full investigation into the events and the importance of ensuring that those responsible be held to account.
	The EU issued a statement on 8 February 2011 which echoed the concerns expressed elsewhere, including by the Indonesian President, and emphasised the need for an effective response.
	We, along with our EU partners, will continue to call for religious tolerance across Indonesia and press the authorities to ensure the rights of all religious minorities.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the monetary value and number of EU-funded projects demolished by Israeli Defence Forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the last three years.

Alistair Burt: We do not have figures on the value and number of EU-funded projects demolished by the Israeli Defence Forces during this period.

Middle East: International Assistance

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department provided to coexistence projects between Israelis and Palestinians in 2010; and what proportion of UK aid to Israel and the Palestinian territories in that year this represented.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the response from my noble Friend Lord Wallace of Saltaire to the noble Lord Janner of Braunstone on 7 February 2011,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA26.

Middle East: International Assistance

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the EU provided to aid and promote joint business initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians in 2010; and what proportion of EU aid to Israel and the Palestinian territories in that year this represented.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the response from my noble Friend Lord Wallace of Saltaire to the noble Lord Janner of Braunstone on 7 February 2011,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA27.

Nigeria: Fraud

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of money scams emanating from Nigeria.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has taken proactive steps via information on its website to alert British nationals about the dangers of internet fraud, money and romance scams which originate in west Africa. The Serious Crime Agency (SOCA) is engaged with partners across the region to target mass marketing fraud which impacts on the United Kingdom.

North Korea: South Korea

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his  (a) US and  (b) South Korean counterparts on the response to attacks by North Korea on South Korea.

Jeremy Browne: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea following the attacks last year. We work closely with South Korea, both in the UN and in Seoul. We also regularly discuss North Korea with US Government representatives in Washington and Seoul. We have made clear our strong support for a process which involves building trust and confidence between North and South Korea. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Occupied Territories: Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Israel on the building of illegal settlements.

Alistair Burt: Our view is that all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal and an obstacle to peace. It also threatens to make a two state solution impossible in the future. While visiting the region in January, I saw the impact of the occupation, including settlements, on Palestinian people.
	We understand the depth of Israeli security concerns. But, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has consistently stressed, in public and in private, we are very disappointed that Israel has not renewed the freeze on settlement construction. The Foreign Secretary discussed these issues most recently with Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman on 24 January 2011 in London.
	We continue to call on the Government of Israel to take all necessary steps to prevent settlement construction.

Pakistan: Deaths

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the death of Salmaan Taseer.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made a statement of condemnation following the death of Governor Taseer. The Foreign Secretary has also written to President Zardari to express his condolences. I spoke to the Pakistan Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, on 10 January 2011 to express the UK's support for a democratic Pakistan, and of the importance of ensuring that the rights and freedoms of all Pakistanis are upheld, a position I reiterated to the Pakistan high commissioner on 31 January 2011. My noble Friend Baroness Warsi also made these points to the speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly when they met on 17 January 2011.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage greater political stability in Pakistan following the death of Salman Taseer.

Alistair Burt: The murder of Governor Taseer was a shocking event. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement condemning the act, and has written to President Zardari to express his condolences. Since his death I have spoken to the Pakistan Minister for Minorities to highlight our concerns about the potential for the misuse of the blasphemy laws to undermine religious tolerance in Pakistan. Baroness Warsi also raised this with the Speaker of the National Assembly on 17 January.
	Pakistan is one of the UK's highest priorities. We are working with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen and deepen our relationship through an enhanced strategic dialogue which was announced by the Prime Minister and President Zardari on 6 August 2010. The Department for International Development has a £665 million four-year development assistance programme, which includes support for education, economic growth and governance.
	Ministers and senior officials engage regularly at a senior level with Pakistani interlocutors from all parties to highlight the importance of democratic and economic stability for Pakistan, including through the development of a national consensus on economic reform.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) technical and  (b) military assistance his Department is providing to the Government of Pakistan.

Alistair Burt: Pakistan is one of the UK's highest priorities. We are working with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen and deepen our relationship through an enhanced strategic dialogue, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Zardari on 6 August 2010.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), together with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development, draws on the tri-departmental Conflict Fund and Bilateral Programme Fund to provide assistance focusing on promoting human rights, institution-building and capacity building. Under the Counter Terrorism and Radicalisation Fund, the FCO is working with the Government of Pakistan and their agencies at both federal and provincial levels to provide support and technical assistance that enables us to jointly tackle the threat from terrorism.

Palestinians: Police

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department provided to the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian territories in connection with training for the Palestinian police in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the level of such funding to be provided by his Department in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Lidington: Funding for common costs of the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), is met from the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy budget, which is itself part of the overall EU budget. The following table takes the estimated UK contribution pre-abatement to the EU budget as a whole, and applies it to the EUPOL COPPS budget to give an approximate indication of UK funding.
	
		
			Indicative UK contribution 
			  Budget period  EUPOL COPPS  budget (€)  Percentage  (€) (nearest 10,000) 
			 2008 6,000,000 14.8 890,000 
			 2009 7,000,000 14.5 1,020,000 
			 2010 6,900,000 14.7 1,010,000 
			 2011 8,250,000 15.0 1,240,000 
		
	
	EUPOL COPPS is currently mandated until 31 December 2011. Decisions on future budget levels will be made during discussions on the Mission's future mandate.

Palestinians: Police

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials sponsored by his Department participated in the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories in connection with training of the Palestinian police in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010; and what plans he has for he number of such participants in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Lidington: The UK continues strongly to support the work of the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories, (EUPOL COPPS). The mission plays an important role in the international community's efforts to increase the effectiveness of the Palestinian Authority's police and wider rule of law institutions.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs technical experts mainly from the Stabilisation Unit's pools of civilian and police experts to work in EUPOL COPPS. The number of UK secondees fluctuates across the year due to tour dates, EU recruitment cycles and the selection of UK applicants by the mission. This is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of UK secondees 
			 2008 2-3 
			 2009 1-2 
			 2010 3-4 
			 2011 2-3 
			  Note: Figures for 2011 cover only January to March since detailed allocations among the various projects funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool for the financial year 2011-12 have not yet been published. They will, however, be announced by written ministerial statement in the next few weeks.

Palestinians: Security Forces

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department plans to provide to assist the US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian territories in the training of Palestinian security forces in  (a) 2011 and  (b) 2012.

Alistair Burt: The Tri-Departmental (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development) Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool (MENA CP) funds the deployment of the British Support Team in Ramallah, to assist the US Security Coordinator in providing technical support and advice on governance, leadership and human rights issues to the Palestinian Security Sector, including the Civil Police, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice. Management of the British Support Team is led by the UK Ministry of Defence.
	MENA CP funding per financial year is as follows:
	2007-08: £347,474
	2008-09: £1,925,610
	2009-10: £2,690,823
	2010-11: £2,450,000.
	Final funding for 2010-11 is not confirmed and is based on the provisional allocation. Funding for the 2011-12 financial year has yet to be confirmed, however financial support through the MENA CP will continue for the deployment of the British Support Team.

Palestinians: Security Forces

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British officials assisted the US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the training of Palestinian security forces in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the number of such officials providing such assistance in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Nick Harvey: I have been asked to reply.
	The following number of British personnel formed the British Support Team which assisted the US Security Co-ordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008-09 13 
			 2009-10 15 
			 2010-11 17 
			 2011-12 (1)12 
			 (1) Estimate.

Press Freedom

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote the development of free and independent media in  (a) Russia,  (b) China,  (c) Afghanistan and  (d) Pakistan.

Jeremy Browne: We have continuing concerns about media freedom in Russia. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the unresolved murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya with Foreign Minister Lavrov on 15 February 2010. During the annual UK- Russia Human Rights Consultations in Moscow on 18 January 2010 we expressed concern about the low success rate in prosecuting perpetrators of assaults on journalists. We supported EU High Representative Baroness Ashton's statement on 17 November 2010 regarding assaults on journalists in Russia. In addition, we fund the work of the independent media agency Caucasian Knot which provides balanced and objective online reporting of news from across the Caucasus region. We will continue to raise issues relating to freedom of expression with Russia both bilaterally and with our EU partners.
	We remain concerned about limits on freedom of expression in China. The Foreign Secretary raised the case of imprisoned author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo during his discussions with Chinese Vice-Premier Li in January. We continue to call for his release. During the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 13 January 2010 we raised our concerns about freedom of the media, citing cases of foreign journalists who have come under pressure from China for their reporting, and the blocking of some international and domestic websites. We will continue to work bilaterally and with the EU to raise our concerns.
	The Government's support for free and independent media in Afghanistan includes supporting the development of the Government Media and Information Centre, which has improved the Afghan Government's relationship and interaction with the independent media, as well as providing training in practical skills to members of the independent media. This support has also been replicated at provincial level in Helmand, through building the Governor's communications capacity. We have provided funding of £837,570 for projects to support Afghan independent media to develop their infrastructure and content. We continue to monitor Afghan media freedom and work with the Afghan Government and international partners to ensure the free and independent media in Afghanistan is protected and strengthened according to the Constitution and Afghan law.
	In 2010 media freedom in Pakistan continued to improve, though there were several high profile cases where journalists were attacked by unknown assailants. Several journalists were also killed in the border areas in terrorist incidents. Constitutional reforms passed last year include a new article which guarantees the right of every citizen to freedom of information. This was partly influenced by a UK-funded project to promote the value of improved freedom of information in support of better governance. We work closely with the Ministry for Information to support their work to formulate a freedom of information law by discussing the UK experience of such legislation. Where necessary we have lobbied at senior levels against media restrictions.

Southern Africa: Human Rights

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps to increase his Department's monitoring of human rights abuses in southern Africa.

Henry Bellingham: The Government work closely with partners to monitor human rights abuses and are committed to working to address them wherever they arise including in southern Africa. In the last year we have raised a wide range of human rights issues; for example lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malawi and the situation of the San (Bushmen) in Botswana. Zimbabwe continues to be of concern regarding human rights and we work closely with human rights organisations to monitor human rights abuses in that country. In the past year, the UK has actively participated in the UN's Universal Periodic Review of the human rights situations in Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia and Sao Tome and Principe. Given this coverage, we have no plans to increase monitoring further.

Thailand: Cambodia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on resolving disputed border area territories through negotiation and other peaceful means.

Jeremy Browne: I have been concerned by the outbreak of fighting on the Cambodia-Thai border and deeply regret the loss of life on both sides. We have urged both Governments to exercise restraint and to resolve the dispute through peaceful means. On 5 February our ambassador to Thailand met Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya and on 7 and 11 February our ambassador to Cambodia met Cambodian Foreign Minister, Hor Namhong, to discuss the dispute.
	The UN Security Council met the Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers and the Indonesian Foreign Minister and Chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marty Natalegawa, at a private session on 14 February. The UN Security Council made a press statement following that meeting, expressing its concern. It called on both sides to exercise restraint, to establish a permanent ceasefire and to resolve the situation through effective dialogue. The members of the UN Security Council expressed support for the active efforts of ASEAN and encouraged the parties to continue to co-operate with ASEAN in this regard.

Tunisia: EU Immigration

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Italian counterpart the potential effects of the number of Tunisian migrants arriving in Italy on other EU member states.

David Lidington: We support collective efforts to secure the EU's frontiers and recognise the important role of FRONTEX (the EU external borders agency) in assisting the Italian Government. We note that recent actions taken by the Tunisian authorities may have helped stem the tide of migrants, at least temporarily. EU cooperation on this issue is key, and so it has been discussed both by EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 February and by EU Interior Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 24-25 February.

Union for the Mediterranean: Finance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the Union of the Mediterranean since its creation.

David Lidington: The Government have made no bilateral financial contribution to the Union for the Mediterranean and has not seconded staff to work at the Secretariat. However, we have contributed to the budget of the Secretariat through the European Union budget. The European Union funded the full costs of the Secretariat's interim budget for May-December 2010 (€780,000) and is expected to fund up to €3 million of the agreed budget for 2011 (€6.25 million). The remaining costs will be met by bilateral donations from Union for the Mediterranean member states.
	Given the political difficulties faced by the Union for the Mediterranean, in particular those linked to the Middle East Peace Process, we have pressed for a focus on technical co-operation. We have insisted that the Secretariat be a small, project-focused body and we have encouraged the Secretariat to identify new sources of finance outside the EU budget, especially from private commercial sources.

Zimbabwe: Sanctions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the EU lifted restrictions on 35 people formerly affected by asset freezes and visa bans in Zimbabwe.

Henry Bellingham: The decision by EU member states to remove 35 people from the list of those affected by its Restrictive Measures on Zimbabwe follows an in-depth assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe. 163 people and 31 economic entities remain subject to the measures for a further 12 months unless all 27 member states unanimously agree to any further relaxation.
	The 35 people removed from the list comprise three dead, seven spouses, nine former Ministers, eight miscellaneous officials and eight minor ZANU Politburo members. These people were initially included by virtue of their marriage or their position in a pre-Government of National Unity government and have now been removed on the grounds that they are no longer involved in human rights abuses or undermining democracy or the rule of law.
	We have always said that we will be guided by progress on the ground in Zimbabwe. Since we last reviewed the restrictive measures in February 2010 the Government of Zimbabwe has continued to make progress on economic issues and in delivering public services. However this has not been matched by equivalent political and democratic reform and we are particularly concerned at the recent upsurge in politically motivated intimidation and violence. This has prevented us from agreeing to any more substantial amendments.
	However, we and our EU partners have emphasised our willingness to revisit the measures at any time should there be further concrete developments on the ground in Zimbabwe. In this context, we fully support the Southern African Development Community and its member states in their effort to facilitate agreement among the parties in Zimbabwe on creating an environment conducive to the holding of free and fair elections.

TRANSPORT

Air Routes: Glasgow

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he has discussed with BMI the future of the Glasgow to London Heathrow route;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with BAA on the future of direct flights by BMI between Glasgow and Heathrow.

Theresa Villiers: I met Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the chief executive officer of BMI, on 6 September 2010; we discussed a range of issues including the structure of airport charges at Heathrow and domestic air services, but not specifically the future of BMI's Glasgow service.
	The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has also discussed this issue with the Scottish Transport Secretary (Keith Brown) on 10 February.

Aviation

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of  (a) airlines and  (b) pilots since May 2010.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers in the Department frequently meet with representatives of airlines and pilots. Details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations between May and September 2010 have been published on the Department's website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/ministers/transparency/
	Information for October 2010 to 31 December 2010 is being collated and will be released as soon as it is practical to do so.
	Recent meetings with representatives of airlines and pilots include:
	A meeting chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport involving airlines and freight cargo companies on 4 November following an air cargo security incident.
	The Minister of State for Transport chaired a National Aviation Security Committee on 29 November. This included representatives from the British Airline Pilots Association.
	The Minister of State for Transport also chairs regular meetings of the South East Airports Taskforce, which includes representations of BA, Virgin, easyJet and Ryanair. The most recent was held on 17 January.

Aviation: Holidays

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of British holiday-makers in each of the next two years who would  (a) be eligible to claim within the scope of the proposed new Air Travel Organisers' Licensing insurance scheme and  (b) not be eligible to claim within the scope of the proposed new scheme;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of UK holiday-makers who purchased their holiday via a click-through arrangement.

Theresa Villiers: The term 'click-through' arrangement is used to describe a wide range of ways to purchase a holiday. Determining the number of holidays which could possibly be described as 'click-throughs' would be difficult and the Department for Transport has not made such an estimate.

Aviation: Pilots

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day.

Theresa Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority's policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue In Aircrews-Guide to Requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.

Aviation: Safety

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects of pilot fatigue on flight safety.

Theresa Villiers: We recognise that pilot fatigue can impact on aviation safety. UK airlines are therefore required to have robust flight time limitation schemes to prevent the onset of fatigue. These have to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
	In addition, the CAA reviews all available information, including newly available research, on the effects of fatigue in aviation and maintains an advisory group with its stakeholders to discuss the effect of crew fatigue on aviation safety.

Aviation: Safety

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on flight time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day.

Theresa Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority's policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue in Aircrews-Guide to Requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.

Aviation: Safety

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the European Aviation Safety Agency on the Notice of Proposed Amendment to flight time limitations.

Theresa Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published the Notice of Proposed Amendment on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals.
	Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If the CAA review identifies any areas of significant concern we will discuss these with EASA at the earliest opportunity.

Aviation: Safety

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what implications the implementation of the provisions of the European Union Bill will have for the transfer of authority over flight time limitations from the Civil Aviation Authority to the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Theresa Villiers: None. The EU already has competence in this area.

Aviation: Safety

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he intends to respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency's Notice of Proposed Amendment for flight time limitations;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on safety of the European Aviation Safety Agency's Notice of Proposed Amendment for flight time limitations.

Theresa Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals contained in the Notice of Proposed Amendment. We will respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency once the CAA has completed that review. Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines.

Aviation: Safety

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had at the Council of Ministers level on  (a) the European Aviation Safety Agency and  (b) flight time limitations.

Theresa Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published draft legislation for consultation on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals.
	Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If necessary we will discuss the legislation with our European counterparts at an appropriate stage in the legislative process.

Aviation: Security

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that air crew representatives are members of each airport security committee.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport is supportive of the general principle that airport security committees should have a broad representation by those parties involved in the delivery of aviation security. However, the final decision on the composition of the committees falls to the airport operator.

Aviation: Security

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on membership of airport security committees for air crew representatives.

Theresa Villiers: I have received representations on this subject from the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) suggesting that members should participate in airport security committees. The Department for Transport is supportive of the general principle that airport security committees should have a broad representation by those parties involved in the delivery of aviation security. However, the final decision on the composition of the committees falls to the airport operator.

Aviation: Working Hours

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effects of pilot fatigue on flight safety.

Theresa Villiers: We recognise that pilot fatigue can impact on aviation safety. UK airlines are therefore required to have robust flight time limitation schemes to prevent the onset of fatigue. These have to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
	In addition, the CAA reviews all available information, including newly available research, on the effects of fatigue in aviation and maintains an advisory group with its stakeholders to discuss the effect of crew fatigue on aviation safety.

Aviation: Working Hours

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on flight time limitations for pilots.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on flight time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority's policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue In Aircrews-Guide to requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.

Aviation: Working Hours

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on safety of replacing the Civil Aviation Authority's CAP371 Flight Time Limitations with the European Aviation Safety Agency's proposal.

Theresa Villiers: The European Aviation Safety Agency published draft legislation for consultation on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals. It will respond to the consultation once it has completed its review. Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines.

Aviation: Working Hours

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the European Aviation Safety Agency on the Notice of Proposed Amendment to Flight Time Limitations in the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published the Notice of Proposed Amendment on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals.
	Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If the CAA review identifies any areas of significant concern we will discuss these with EASA at the earliest opportunity.

Aviation: Working Hours

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned on pilot fatigue in the last 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: In the last 10 years the Civil Aviation Authority has commissioned:
	a study to investigate the fatigue implications of 12-hour shift patterns operated by police helicopter crews;
	a study into in-flight napping strategies; and
	continuing studies into sleep patterns which have lead to revisions of CAP 371, "The Avoidance of Fatigue in Aircrews" and the development of the System for Aircrew Fatigue Evaluation (SAFE) computer model. SAFE is used by the CAA to evaluate Flight Time Limitation scheme submissions by operators.

Biofuels

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to support the development of the bioethanol sector.

Norman Baker: The Government support the development of a sustainable biofuels industry, including bioethanol, through the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). The RTFO requires fossil fuel suppliers over a certain size to supply a specified percentage of renewable fuel. Further information on the RTFO is available at:
	www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk

Bus Services: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment his Department  (a) has made and  (b) plans to make of likely alterations to (i) rural and (ii) other bus services arising from changes to the funding of (A) Bus Service Operator Grant, (B) the concessionary fares scheme and (C) local government;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to monitor the effects of reductions in public funding on the service level of  (a) supported bus services supported by local authorities and  (b) other bus services;
	(3)  if he will assess the effects of reductions in the level of public expenditure on the provision of local subsidised travel schemes.

Norman Baker: 78% of bus services are provided by operators on a commercial basis. The Department for Transport supports these services, including those operating in rural areas, through Bus Service Operator's Grant, the funding for which has been maintained in its entirety for 2011-12.
	With regard to monitoring the impact of changes in bus subsidy, concessionary travel reimbursement or local authority funding, this cannot be done in isolation. Any changes to the level of services, the cost of bus fares, or the number of deregistrations will reflect wider influences, including commercial decisions by operators and, where appropriate, local authority priorities.
	The Department for Transport already publishes National Statistics on annual bus service mileage, passenger journey numbers and a local bus fares index. It plans to continue to publish these statistics in future years. The number of applications for new registrations and variations processed and accepted, and the number of registrations cancelled, is published annually in the Traffic Commissioners' Annual Report. However monitoring bus deregistrations would not be a good way of monitoring impacts in service provision, as it does not give any indication of why services have been deregistered.
	I have regular discussions with the Confederation of Passenger Transport, who represent the bus industry, as well as the Local Government Association and the Passenger Transport Executive Group. They all provide a strategic overview of the impacts of any change.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has contributed to the Government Carbon Offset Fund each year since 2007-08. In years 2007-08 and 2008-09 the fund was administered by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, and no information is held by individual Departments relating to the companies to which payment was made. The Department for Transport paid £12,755.74 in 2007-08, and £13,645.24 in 2008-09.
	In 2009-10 a new Government Carbon Offset Fund was introduced and under this provision Departments made payments directly to the credit providers. The payment from the Department for Transport, to EDF Energy, in 2009-10 amounted to £14,645.30.

Departmental Policy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport continues to support the Compact as it forms an integral part of our commitment for successful partnership working with civil society organisations to ensure better outcomes for communities and citizens.
	In light of the renewed Compact launched in December, 2010, we have taken account of Compact principles in our policy developments to ensure we build a stronger civil society. This includes our recent Local Transport White Paper, as seen in chapter 8-'Local transport in society'.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people who drive without insurance.

Michael Penning: On 4 February 2011 a new offence in Great Britain of keeping a vehicle with no insurance was introduced. Enforcement of the offence is planned to commence in the spring.
	The scheme for continuous insurance enforcement (CIE) will identify uninsured vehicles by regularly comparing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) vehicles database with the motor insurance database managed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
	Unless a vehicle is declared off road, those who remain uninsured, in spite of warning, will receive a fixed penalty notice and fine of £100, their vehicles may be clamped and impounded and they may face prosecution by the courts.
	This builds upon improvements in police enforcement, such as the use of ANPR cameras which have significantly reduced the level of uninsured driving.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new ultra low-emission vehicles were registered in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport uses the term 'ultra-low emission vehicles' to refer to vehicles with significantly lower levels of tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles. In practice, the term currently refers to electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
	Data from the DVLA suggests that 1,277 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in Great Britain during 2010: 268 cars, four quadricycles, 547 motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and tricycles, six buses, coaches and minibuses, and 452 commercial vehicles, including light vans. Data for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is currently limited.

Electric Vehicles

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many electric car charging points were operational in each region of England on the most recent date for which figures are available and what estimate he has made of the number in each such region that will be operational on  (a) 31 December 2011 and  (b) 1 May 2015.

Norman Baker: We do not have access to data on the numbers and locations of all EV charging points in the UK, many of which have been put in by businesses for use by employees or the public.
	Data are available for installations made under the Government's Plugged-In Places (PIP) programme. The following table sets out data on the number of operational charge points installed by each project as part of this programme to 31 December 2010 and estimates of numbers expected to be installed by 31 March 2013, when the PIP funding ends. Forward forecasting is based on financial years so we do not have a forecast for 31 December 2011.
	
		
			  Project  Points installed at  31 December 2010  Planned installations by 31 March 2013 
			 London 13 3,219 
			 Milton Keynes 0 938 
			 North East England 86 1,473 
			 Midlands - 1,713 
			 East of England - 858 
			 Greater Manchester - 305 
			 Central Scotland - 375 
			 Northern Ireland - 846 
		
	
	The last five projects are part of the Second Wave of PIP projects, which were awarded funding for 2011-12 and 2012-13, so could not have installed any posts by 31 December 2010.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2011,  Official Report, column 825W, on Heathrow airport, what government policies would be taken into account as material considerations in the decision of the Secretary of State for Transport on any (theoretical) application for a third runway at Heathrow airport.

Theresa Villiers: The coalition Government have made clear their opposition to a third runway at Heathrow and BAA announced in May 2010 that it had stopped work on a planning application for such a proposal.
	Where a planning application is made for expansion of an airport, the relevant Government policies are taken into account as material considerations.

Lorries: Sleep Apnoea

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides to GPs on the identification of obstructive sleep apnoea for drivers of large commercial vehicles; and on which dates the guidance has been updated in the last 10 years.

Michael Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides guidance to GPs in its twice yearly published 'At a Glance Guide to the current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive'. Since 2008, this publication has advised GPs to refer to the 'Tiredness can Kill' leaflet for more information on obstructive sleep apnoea. This leaflet was introduced in May 2004 and was updated May 2006, November 2008, September 2009 and June 2010.
	Since March 2003, guidance on obstructive sleep apnoea has also been supplied to the examining doctors of drivers of large commercial vehicles required to undergo an examination. A guidance leaflet has accompanied the medical examination since June 2004 and has been updated in March 2005, May 2006, June 2007, April 2009 and October 2010.
	Obstructive sleep apnoea guidance has also been sent direct to approximately 26,500 GPs who subscribe to the Electronic Medical Information System NHS Purchasing alerts in December 2008, June 2009 and in February 2010.

M54: Staffordshire

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much was spent on installing traffic lights at Junction 2 of the M54 (Coven Heath);
	(2)  how many accidents have occurred at Junction 2 of the M54 (Coven Heath) since the introduction of traffic lights at that junction.

Michael Penning: Current expenditure for the highway works at M54 Junction 2 stands at £2.9 million. There are minor defects to be rectified by the contractor, so the final account has yet to be agreed.
	Validated accident data for this junction are available up until September 2010. Between the time that the traffic signals became operational in July 2010 and September 2010, there was one recorded accident at this junction. This was categorised as slight by the police.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to continue the provision of financial incentives for the purchase of ultra-low carbon cars following the end of funding for the current scheme in 2011-12.

Norman Baker: The Government have made provision of over £400 million to promote the uptake of ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies including, provision of around £300 million to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.
	The Government are committed to reviewing the Plug-in Car Grant to asses its effectiveness in the context of emerging market conditions. Any changes from the first review will come into place in April 2012.

Network Rail

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the technological innovation and research undertaken by Network Rail since its inception.

Theresa Villiers: No formal assessment of technological innovation and research undertaken by Network Rail has been carried out by the Department for Transport. Sir Roy McNulty, as part of his study into value for money of the rail industry, is considering these issues in detail. His interim report has highlighted critical actions on innovation as being important to achieving sustainable cost-efficiency improvements.

Railways: Construction

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed connecting line between High Speed 1 and High Speed 2 is intended for use by continental-sized freight trains.

Philip Hammond: There are no plans to use the proposed connecting line between High Speed 1 and the proposed High Speed 2 for continental sized freight trains.

Railways: Fares

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he plans to make to representations from the public on the level of rail fares.

Theresa Villiers: Following the spending review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a significant programme of investment in rail including significant rolling stock to address overcrowding on commuter services. Prioritising such investment will generate economic benefits and improve conditions for passengers.
	The delivery of this major upgrade programme, together with the pressing need to tackle the deficit has forced us to take some difficult decisions on fares. We have announced that, for most operators, rises in regulated fares will be capped at RPI+1% for 2011, and at RPI+3% for the subsequent three years.
	Beyond this period, securing benefits for both taxpayers and fare payers through the reduction in the cost of running the railways is a priority. Sir Roy McNulty's report on value for money, to be delivered in April 2011, will be an important step in helping us to deliver this aim.

Railways: Franchises

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 41-2W, on South Eastern Trains, and with reference to the answer of 4 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 1002-3W, on railways: franchises, for what reason the information requested by the hon. Member for Islington North cannot be disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality; on what date his Department adopted its policy on non-disclosure of such information; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 17 February 2011
	The Integrated Kent Franchise was let on 29 November 2005, and contains a confidentiality agreement, specifically schedule 7.1 of the National Rail Franchise Terms.
	The Department for Transport discloses details of revenue support only once the supporting calculations which drive these numbers have passed the annual audit. Southeastern entered revenue support on 1 April 2010, therefore completing a full year in this mechanism on 31 March 2011. Details of revenue support payments are available for disclosure after this point, when the information is deemed to be no longer commercially or market sensitive.

Railways: Snow and Ice

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold to account rail franchisees who did not meet performance objectives during recent periods of severe weather.

Theresa Villiers: Train operators are held to account through their franchise contracts. Each franchise agreement sets limits on delays and cancellations. In most cases, these are based on average performance over a rolling year.
	Franchise agreements provide for penalties or other remedial action to be imposed where an operator exceeds the limits set on delays and cancellations.
	The Department for Transport closely monitors emerging results and discusses performance with operators on a regular basis.

Railways: Standards

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of delay minutes on Southeastern Railway services were attributed to  (a) Network Rail,  (b) Southeastern Railway and  (c) other train operating companies in each of the last three years.

Theresa Villiers: The information requested is shown in the following table, for the last three years for which data are held.
	
		
			  Delay minutes suffered by Southeastern trains: total of delays and attribution of responsibility for them 
			   Train delay (Minutes)  Proportion (Percentage) 
			  Year( 1)  (As at January each year)  Network Rail  Southeastern  Other operators  Total  Network Rail  Southeastern  Other operators 
			 2008-09 401,994 313,522 63,227 778,744 52 40 8 
			 2009-10 507,535 299,361 46,064 852,960 60 35 5 
			 2010-11 629,322 389,949 58,484 1,077,755 58 36 5 
			 (1) 13 four-weekly periods ending in early January each year.  Source: Network Rail rail industry data.

Rescue Services: Liverpool

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Liverpool Coastguard Station was not included in the first draft consultation on the future of the Marine and Coastguard Agency; for what reasons it was subsequently included; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Any consultation document and sets of proposals will evolve and develop over a period of time before they are finally published. The final version of the consultation document we published on 16 December recognised that the consideration of factors between Liverpool and Belfast was finely balanced and so we decided that it would be best to allow the eventual decision to be informed by the process of consultation. The consultation document expressly invites views on the factors that should be taken into account in that decision-making process.

Roads: Snow and Ice

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of levels of grit supplies held by  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) local authorities;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the amount of grit used by  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) local authorities since 1 November 2010;
	(3)  what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of the strategic reserve of grit which has been drawn down for use by  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) local authorities since 1 November 2010.

Norman Baker: holding answer 21 January 2011
	As of 17 January 2011, English local authorities held 384,889 tonnes and the Highways Agency held 124,766 tonnes of operational road de-icing salt. At the same date, 186,790 tonnes was held in the English strategic stockpile.
	Overall, the amount used between 1 November 2010 and 17 January 2011 is estimated to be 963,999 tonnes. This figure consists of 150,223 tonnes used by the Highways Agency and 813,777 tonnes used by local highway authorities in England.
	In estimating the amount of road de-icing salt used in England between 1 November and end January 2011, some estimation has had to be made in relation to the salt used by local authorities during November 2010. This is because the weekly collection of stockholding data commenced at the beginning of December 2010.
	As at 17 January 2011, no road de-icing salt had been drawn down from the English strategic stockpile by the Highways Agency. As of the same date, 47,605 tonnes had been drawn down by English local authorities.

Shipping: Oil

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many ship-to-ship oil transfers were recorded in each year from 2006 to 2010;
	(2)  how many ships gave notice of ship-to-ship oil transfers in each year from 2006 to 2010.

Michael Penning: Each application to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) can be for a single ship-to-ship oil transfer or for a series of transfers, meaning that the number of transfers can be greater than the number of applications.
	 In 2006
	30 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 52 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (Five other applications were submitted but cancelled.)
	 In 2007
	13 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 33 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (One other application was submitted but cancelled.)
	 In 2008
	13 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 17 actual ship-to-ship transfers.
	 In 2009
	256 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 344 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (52 other application were submitted but cancelled.)
	 In 2010
	278 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 370 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (45 other applications were submitted but cancelled.)

Sustainable Transport Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) names and  (b) relevant experience is of the group of independent advisors who will form part of the assessment process for bids to the sustainable transport fund.

Norman Baker: Paragraph 3.20 of the White Paper 'Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon', published on 19 January, says "we will be inviting a small panel to help us in assessing Local Sustainable Transport Fund bids."
	Interested parties with experience in delivering sustainable travel measures should forward a short CV and covering letter to my Department by 11 March 2011. I then intend to select three or four individuals to assist in this process.

Taxis: Greater London

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 675-76W, on taxis licensing, who is responsible for taxi licensing in London; and whether his Department's best practice guidance extends to London.

Norman Baker: Responsibility for licensing taxis in London rests with Transport for London. The Department's Best Practice Guidance extends to London in the sense of offering assistance in formulating suitable licensing policies, but ultimately taxi licensing policies and decisions are a matter for the Mayor and TfL.
	The Department's Best Practice Guidance urges licensing authorities not to set an age limit policy for taxis. Rather it suggests that they assess vehicles on an individual basis.
	Transport for London has decided that it will impose an age limit on London taxis. From 2012 TfL will not license any taxis over 15 years of age.
	This policy has been drawn up by the Mayor of London and TfL; they have responsibility for formulating suitable licensing policies. No doubt they have considered the advice in the Department's Best Practice Guidance but ultimately the decision is theirs to make.

Transport: Snow and Ice

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings on what dates since June 2010  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had at which winter resilience was discussed; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings.

Norman Baker: holding answer 3 December 2010
	Ministers in the Department for Transport have scheduled weekly meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions when required, to discuss departmental business. These meetings have included winter resilience issues as and when necessary.
	The Secretary of State met with David Quarmby CBE, chair of the independent Winter Resilience Review, on 22 July 2010 to discuss the review's interim report prior to publication on 26 July. The Secretary of State also met with David Quarmby CBE, and his fellow panel members, Brian Smith and Chris Green, on 7 October 2010 to discuss the review's final report published on 22 October. I met with David Quarmby CBE, separately on the same day.
	In light of the early and severe onset of winter, the Government asked David Quarmby CBE, in December 2010 to follow up his earlier review of winter resilience with an urgent audit of how well highway authorities and transport operators in England had coped with the severe weather between 24 November and 9 December 2010. The Secretary of State for Transport met with David Quarmby CBE, on 17 December 2010 to discuss the findings of this audit prior to the report being published on 21 December 2010.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2011,  Official Report, column 420W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, how many items of correspondence were received by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission from hon. Members in  (a) each local authority area,  (b) each region and  (c) any sub-national area for which information is available (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of population in 2009-10.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the Hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 420W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, how many items of correspondence were received by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission from hon. Members in (a) each local authority area, (b) each region and (c) any sub-national area for which information is available (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of population in 2009-10.
	Within the appropriate cost limit we can only provide details of correspondence by the business units which deal with them. Some of these operate regionally and others, for example, those dealing with cases managed off the main system, operate nationally. The table below shows the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament dealt with by each business unit.
	
		
			  Area  Child Support Agency Centre  2009-10  Percentage of total correspondence received in 2009-10 
			 Midlands Dudley 1,580 10 
			 South East Hastings 1,130 7 
			 Northern Falkirk 2,290 14 
			 South West Plymouth 1,370 8 
			 North West Birkenhead 1,480 9 
			 Eastern Belfast 2,770 17 
			 National Teams UK wide 5,900 36 
			 Total - 16,530 - 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include case specific correspondence but may exclude some general correspondence. 2. Figures include MP hotline data. 3. Multiple correspondence may be received for a single issue/complaint. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	I am sorry I could not be more helpful.

Child Support: Complaints

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made in respect of the  (a) Child Support Agency and  (b) Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints have been made in respect of the (a) Child Support Agency and (b) Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the latest period for which figures are available.
	The table below shows the number of complaints received in each of the last five years. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission took responsibility for the Child Support Agency on 1 November 2008. Therefore, for 2008/2009, complaints received prior to 1 November were directed to the Child Support Agency and complaints received post 1 November were directed to the Commission.
	
		
			   Complaints received 
			 2005-06 62,100 
			 2006-07 47,900 
			 2007-08 37,600 
			 2008-09 27,800 
			 2009-10 25,100 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. From April 2007, the Agency introduced a new complaints resolution process, which simplified the process from three stages to two stages. 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to review the calculation used by the Child Support Agency to determine levels of child maintenance entitlement.

Maria Miller: The Government have recently confirmed that a new child maintenance scheme will be introduced in 2012 in the consultation document "Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance" published on 13 January 2011:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf
	New scheme will make use of income data from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. We will consider whether further changes are required in consultation with interested groups. Once the new child maintenance scheme has been successfully introduced, the Government intend to commence a process of phased transition of cases from Child Support Agency.
	There are no plans to change the calculation rules on the two Child Support Agency schemes currently in operation.

Children: Maintenance

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's plans to create a single system of child support.

Maria Miller: The consultation document "Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance" launched on 13 January 2011 sets out details of our intended strategy for the future and a future system of child maintenance.
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf
	Chapter 3 sets out the plans to move to a single new child maintenance system.
	The problems with the two existing CSA schemes, particularly those relating to the current IT system introduced in 2003, are well documented. Consequently, we propose to move to a new scheme, replacing the two current schemes and using income data from HMRC tax records, supported by a new IT system. This will support a more efficient and effective scheme for those parents who cannot reach their own family-based arrangements.

Children: Maintenance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the proposals in the Green Paper, Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility, what support he plans to provide to enable separated parents to make reliable and sustainable private child maintenance arrangements which are mutually agreed; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the provision of such support in its first 12 months.

Maria Miller: The consultation document "Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance", published on 13 January 2011, sets out proposals to make it easier for parents to access information and support to reach family-based arrangements that are collaborative, flexible and based around the welfare of their children. This includes examples of existing good practice by voluntary and community sector organisations as well as the child maintenance options service, both in providing and integrating services for separating and separated parents.
	This is in the consultation stage and various models are being considered for the design and delivery of services to support separated families to establish effective child maintenance arrangements. It is not possible to confirm the future costs of such support until the consultation and evaluation of all the options has been considered.

Children: Maintenance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding over what period he plans to provide for parents to receive help from trained, impartial advisers on child maintenance arrangements.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission currently provides information and support on child maintenance issues through its child maintenance options service at a current forecasted annual cost of £4.4 million for the contact centre and £1.2 million for the face to face delivery arm to the end of March 2011.
	The recent consultation document "Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance" sets out proposals to make it easier for parents to access the information and support they need to reach family-based arrangements that are collaborative, flexible and based around the welfare of their children. This is in the consultation stage and various models are being considered for the design and delivery of services to support separated families to establish effective child maintenance arrangements. It is not possible to confirm the future costs of such support until the consultation and evaluation of all the options has been considered.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of savings his Department will make across the comprehensive spending review that will be retained within his Department's budgets.

Chris Grayling: Over the course of the spending review period, the Department for Work and Pensions will increase resource spending by 2% in real terms.
	While this settlement provides substantial additional resources to fund our welfare reforms, the Department's core budget will be reduced by 26% in real terms and the corporate centre budget will reduce by 40% by 2014-15.

Departmental Official Cars

Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the make and model is of each Government Car Service car used by his Department since May 2010; and which Minister used each one.

Chris Grayling: The Government Car Service provides a safe and secure transport for Government Ministers and their official papers.
	The make and model of each Government Car Service vehicle used by the DWP Ministers' since May 2010 are as follows:
	One Jaguar XJ 2.7 litre diesel
	One Honda Civic Hybrid
	Three Toyota Prius Hybrid.
	The Government Car Service has a policy of not disclosing which make and model of vehicle is used by each Minister for security reasons.
	Following a review of the Government Car Service, a revised operating model was introduced and has delivered a 54% reduction in expenditure.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the likely effects on the staffing levels  (a) in each of his Department's offices in Glasgow and  (b) of each service provided by his Department in Glasgow of the implementation of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Chris Grayling: While the spending review settlement will result in the Department's core budget being reduced by 26% in real terms over the four years to 2014-15, the Department will receive substantial extra resources to deliver a range of new measures.
	This outcome is likely to result in staffing being reduced in some areas of the Department and increased in others, and at different rates. More detailed work is under way to allocate the overall settlement to the different parts of our business and assess the resulting staffing levels. This detailed planning will take account of estimated staff turnover rates and the potential for internal and external redeployment.
	The Department's detailed planning for 2011-12 will be made available in a one year delivery plan, which will be published closer to the beginning of the next financial year. Figures for 2012-13 to 2014-15 are not yet available as these are dependent on key decisions on welfare reform.

Departmental Travel

Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: The following table details this Department's spend on ministerial travel during the period May to December 2010; further data are unavailable at present. The Department is currently reviewing travel expenditure across the board with a view to further savings.
	
		
			  Travel expenditure  2009 (£)  2010 (£)  % Reduction 
			 Ministerial cars 356,852 145,420 59 
			 Air/rail costs 40,029 12,694 68 
			 Taxi costs 3,276 1,152 64 
			 Oyster cards 0 48 - 
			 Total 400,157 159,314 60

Disability Living Allowance

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the personal independence payment will include an allowance for mobility requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Welfare Reform Bill, which had its First Reading on the 16 February 2011, makes clear that personal independence payment will comprise a daily living component and a mobility component. Both components will be payable at one of two rates.

Disability Living Allowance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Hartlepool constituency receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Recipients of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance in Hartlepool parliamentary constituency, May 2010 
			   Number of recipients 
			 Hartlepool constituency 4,130 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Data are for the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.  3. These figures are published at http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html.  Source:  Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100%WPLS.

Disability Living Allowance: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments  (a) reduced and  (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last three years.

Maria Miller: We are not able to say how many residents of Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments  (a) reduced and  (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last three years. This is because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.

Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that people living in care homes can access appropriate and affordable transport to participate in activities following the proposed removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance for those in residential care.

Maria Miller: Local authorities contract with care homes to meet the assessed needs of disabled people that fall within its eligibility criteria and care homes must meet those contractual obligations. Assessed needs are set out in an agreed care plan and will cover activities of daily living which may include providing access to doctors, dentists and local services such as libraries and banks.
	Care homes are also obliged to help residents pursue their independence including their individual religious beliefs.
	In addition, the Access to Work scheme can pay towards equipment needed at work, adapting premises to meet needs, a support worker, and it can also pay towards the cost of getting to work if you cannot use public transport.

Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2010,  Official Report, column 258W, on disability living allowance: care homes, when he plans to publish the impact assessments on the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance from people in residential care.

Maria Miller: Consideration was given to the equality impacts of the measure when the proposal was being developed. The equality impact assessment for removing the mobility component of disability living allowance from state funded care home residents after 28 days will be published with the proposed legislation.

Disability Living Allowance: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Dartford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments  (a) reduced and  (b) increased upon reassessment in each of the last 12 months.

Maria Miller: We are not able to say how many people in Dartford constituency receiving disability living allowance (DLA) have had their payments  (a) reduced,  (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last 12 months.
	This is because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.

Disability Living Allowance: Ex-servicemen

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many veterans receive  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) the low care component of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: Entitlement to disability living allowance is determined by the level of care and/or mobility needs arising from disability. Information, therefore, regarding numbers of veterans receiving disability living allowance is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions as it is not required for the assessment of the claim.

Disability Living Allowance: Wrexham

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for the mobility component of disability living allowance have been made by residents of care homes in Wrexham constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: This information is not available because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.
	The number of recipients of either rate of the mobility component of DLA resident in care homes in Wales, is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Mobility component recipients in residential care 
			   Number 
			 Wales 3,000 
			 Great Britain 77,000 
			  Notes:  Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Employment

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department plans to provide to contracted providers of the mandatory work activity programme on  (a) tailoring activities to improve jobseekers' employment prospects and  (b) supporting jobseekers with disabilities or health problems to comply with the terms of the programme.

Chris Grayling: The Department is currently preparing detailed guidance for Mandatory Work Activity providers. The activity undertaken by customers during a placement will be designed to help them develop the labour market discipline associated with employment. They will be expected to attend on time and regularly, carry out specific tasks and work under supervision, all of which will be useful to them and are valued by employers.
	Contracted providers will be required to make any reasonable adjustments to ensure that customers who have been referred to Mandatory Work Activity are able to participate, taking the necessary steps to obtain and provide special aids or services that might be needed for participation.

Employment Schemes

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made for planning purposes of the expected level of unemployment at the time of the introduction of the Work Programme.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not produce forecasts of unemployment. The Department produces projections for business planning purposes which are aligned to the overall independent claimant count forecasts published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as part of the autumn forecast.
	Neither the OBR claimant count forecasts nor the Department's business planning projections contain any additional impact due to the Work Programme.
	The Work Programme will begin in summer 2011. The Office for Budget Responsibility published its forecast of seasonally adjusted UK claimant count unemployment on 29 November 2010. In quarter three of 2011, the forecast is 1.51 million.

Employment Schemes: Derelict land

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the Work Programme on former coalfield communities.

Chris Grayling: The Work Programme is due to launch during summer 2011. Whereas in the past we have prescribed the support that welfare-to-work providers should offer to our customers, we are giving Work Programme providers the freedom to innovate to find the best ways of supporting individual customers into sustained employment, within the context of the local labour market in which they are operating. We are also expecting providers to work actively with local partners, including local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and employers, to understand local needs, sources of support and employment opportunities.
	We expect this approach to result in provision that is better able to deal with barriers to employment which are specific to localities, including those experienced by customers in former coalfield communities.

Employment Schemes: Per Capita Costs

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average unit cost will be per participant for each of the different payment groups on the Work Programme.

Chris Grayling: The Work Programme will reward delivery partners for moving customers into work and keeping customers in work. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be paying by results after they have occurred.
	DWP are currently evaluating tenders for the Work Programme. DWP asked organisations bidding for the Work Programme to state in their bids the level of performance they expect to achieve and the price of their services across the range of customers. Forecast unit costs will therefore be established as part of the competitive process and actual unit costs will depend upon performance delivered.

Employment: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to assist young people in Coventry into employment.

Chris Grayling: This Government are determined to deal with the legacy of youth unemployment. In all parts of the country our approach is to ensure that young unemployed people get the personalised help they need to find sustainable employment. Jobcentre Plus local offices will have more control to allow them to deliver in a way that is more responsive to local needs. Work Programme providers will be free to design support based on the needs of individuals and target the right support at the right time. Both Jobcentre Plus and Work Programme providers will work with local public, private, and third sector organisations where this delivers the best job outcomes for individuals.

Health and Safety Executive: Manpower

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people the Health and Safety Executive employed in each region in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of levels of employment in each of the next five years.

Chris Grayling: The number of people employed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), by region, for the five years from 1 April 2006 to 1 February 2011 is provided in the following table. HSE does not hold readily accessible, reliable regional figures prior to 2006. It has still to determine its estimates for regional staffing levels in each of the next five years.
	
		
			  Health and Safety Executive: people( 1)  employed by region 
			  Region( 2)  at 1 April  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  At 1 February 2011 
			 East Midlands 542 518 511 529 526 505 
			 East of England 206 193 175 184 182 175 
			 London 569 515 442 291 213 209 
			 North East 81 77 76 83 82 85 
			 North West 1,419 1,400 1,340 1,449 1,537 1,548 
			 Scotland 304 284 277 282 292 285 
			 South East 176 195 190 193 200 199 
			 South West 105 101 90 99 119 123 
			 Wales 121 126 114 118 120 119 
			 West Midlands 184 177 167 173 174 173 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 211 208 373 376 386 386 
			 Total 3,918 3,794 3,755 3,777 3,831 3,807 
			 (1) The figures are a headcount and include staff in the Health and Safety Laboratory, which is an in-house agency of HSE and staff on inward secondment where HSE meets the majority of their costs. (2) Staff are assigned to regions based on their permanent office address. However, some staff will work at any site across Great Britain depending on where their skills are required.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of tenants in social housing likely to claim housing benefit if rents for new tenants are let at 80 of market rates  (a) in total and  (b) in each region.

Steve Webb: The Department has not estimated the proportion of tenants in social housing likely to claim housing benefit if rents for new tenants are let at 80% of market rates. Work between DWP and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is ongoing on the impact on housing benefit of the proposals for affordable rent for social housing. DCLG plan to publish an impact assessment for the policy measure in March.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit  (a) at current rent levels and  (b) with new lettings at 80 per cent. of market levels (i) in total and (ii) in each region.

Steve Webb: A broad estimate of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit in England in 2009-10 is about 60 to 70%.
	No estimate has been made of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit in each region.
	No estimate has been made of the proportion of social housing rental income that will be supported by housing benefit with new lettings at 80 per cent of market levels.
	Work between DWP and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is ongoing on the impact on housing benefit of the proposals for affordable rent for social housing. DCLG plan to publish an impact assessment for the policy measure in March.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average reduction in housing benefit for tenants of social-rented housing who are deemed to be under-occupying their homes in each local authority area.

Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients under occupying their accommodation. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the average reduction in housing benefit for tenants of social-rented housing who are deemed to be under-occupying their homes in each local authority area.
	On 16 February 2011 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) produced an impact assessment entitled "Under-occupation of social housing", coinciding with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. The impact assessment included national and regional estimates regarding working age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home and who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria in social-rented housing.
	The impact assessment can be found at
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of working age households in receipt of housing benefit that are deemed to be under-occupying their properties and who are  (a) local authority tenants and  (b) registered social landlord tenants in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients under occupying their accommodation. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of working-age households in receipt of housing benefit that are currently deemed to be under-occupying their properties and who are  (a) local authority tenants and  (b) registered social landlord tenants in each region.
	On 16 February 2011 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) produced an impact assessment entitled "Under-occupation of social housing", coinciding with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. The impact assessment included national and regional estimates regarding working age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home and who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria in social-rented housing. The impact assessment also included a national estimate of the number of local authority and registered social landlord tenants likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria.
	The impact assessment can be found at
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in social rented accommodation where the claimant is  (a) between the age of 60 years and retirement age,  (b) part of a couple aged under 60 years with children,  (c) a lone parent under the age of 60 years,  (d) part of a couple without children under the age of 60 years and  (e) under the age of 60 years and single in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: DWP estimates of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in social-rented accommodation by the requested family types and age bands are given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Housing benefit claimants in social rented accommodation, family type, aged under 60: November 2010 
			  Government office region  All  Single, no child dependant  Single with child dependant(s)  Couple, no child dependant  Couple with child dependant(s) 
			 All 1,090,080 511,850 372,450 55,910 149,88 0 
			 North East 52,950 26,010 15,740 4,090 7,110 
			 North West 176,980 88,920 57,490 9,680 20,900 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 71,110 34,260 22,390 4,280 10,190 
			 East Midlands 52,220 23,360 18,050 3,000 7,820 
			 West Midlands 99,200 45,610 33,200 5,740 14,640 
			 East of England 90,910 37,850 33,680 4,700 14,690 
			 London 177,730 81,800 66,540 4,920 24,470 
			 South East 122,430 49,890 46,700 5,980 19,850 
			 South West 84,930 36,180 30,080 4,640 14,030 
			 Wales 56,600 27,070 18,180 3,650 7,700 
			 Scotland 105,020 60,910 30,410 5,230 8,470 
		
	
	
		
			  60-state pension age housing benefit claimants, social tenants: November 2010 
			   Claimants 
			 All 96,900 
			 North East 6,600 
			 North West 18,370 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 7,440 
			 East Midlands 4,420 
			 West Midlands 8,760 
			 East of England 7,140 
			 London 10,610 
			 South East 9,870 
			 South West 7,670 
			 Wales 5,720 
			 Scotland 10,290 
			  Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and November 2010 are the latest available. 4. The age at which women reach state pension age will gradually increase from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and April 2020. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. 5. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 6. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. 7. State pension age (SPA) is 64 years for men and currently 60 for women under the incremental SPA equalisation.  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) one bedroom,  (b) two bedroom,  (c) three bedroom,  (d) four bedroom and  (e) five bedroom or greater properties in the social rented sector occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients including the sizes of the properties they occupy. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of bedrooms in properties in the social-rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each region.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) one bedroom,  (b) two bedroom,  (c) three bedroom,  (d) four bedroom and  (e) five bedroom or greater properties in the social rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients including the sizes of the properties they occupy. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of bedrooms in properties in the social-rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area.

Immigrants: Human Rights

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he was consulted on the Positions on the rights of migrants in an irregular situation Position Paper (CommDH/PositionPaper(2010)5), from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in respect of the matters relating to employment and economic and social rights; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Position Paper mentioned is a short summary of the findings of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, acting in an independent capacity. There is no formal mechanism or requirement for Member Governments of the Council of Europe to be routinely consulted on such papers and I can confirm that the Secretary of State was not consulted on the Position Paper.

Independent Living Fund: Wrexham

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications have been  (a) made to and  (b) granted by the Independent Living Fund in Wrexham constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The ILF does not record applications or awards made by parliamentary constituency. The application and acceptance levels for Wrexham Social Services Department for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of applications made to the ILF  Number of applications that were accepted by the ILF 
			 2006-07 12 12 
			 2007-08 13 13 
			 2008-09 9 6 
			 2009-10 10 5 
			 2010-11 7 2

Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions have been brought by the Health and Safety Executive for breaches of health and safety law in each region in the last 10 years.

Chris Grayling: HSE holds the information required for the period 2000-01 to 2009-10 and the figures are shown in table 1.
	These represent prosecutions of individual breaches of health and safety legislation, heard in the relevant year, and where a result has been secured, i.e. the prosecution has been completed. A 'year' is from 1 April to 31 March.
	The following figures relate to prosecutions brought by HSE in England and Wales, and recommended to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Scotland. The COPFS may amend or decide not to proceed with some offences. It should be noted that not all offences recommended by HSE to COPFS result in a prosecution.
	
		
			  Table 1: Health and safety offences prosecuted by enforcing authorities in Great Britain, by region (where known), 2000-01 to 2009-10( 1) 
			   Offences prosecuted 
			  Region/country  2000-01( 2)  2001-02( 2)  2002-03( 2)  2003-04( 2)  2004-05( 2)  2005-06  2006-07( 3)  2007-08( 3)  2008-09( 3)  2009-10( 1, 3)  2000-01 to 2009-10( 1) 
			 East of England 171 210 162 191 223 217 116 110 117 124 1,641 
			 East Midlands 245 232 129 127 73 87 76 106 107 114 1,296 
			 London 149 93 130 68 95 74 78 67 55 105 914 
			 North East 94 97 70 76 56 49 59 68 44 35 648 
			 North West 222 178 229 164 101 94 121 104 98 89 1,400 
			 South East 177 141 77 155 92 68 111 77 91 116 1,105 
			 South West 106 115 104 112 78 54 89 52 145 85 940 
			 West Midlands 232 147 233 204 177 110 108 132 126 108 1,577 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 139 200 108 178 113 133 135 131 110 113 1,360 
			 English regions 'not known' 97 92 60 72 47 9 - - - - 377 
			 
			 England 1,632 1,505 1,302 1,347 1,055 895 893 847 893 889 11,258 
			 Wales 160 219 124 78 88 40 52 59 42 34 896 
			 
			 Scotland 181 262 233 295 177 121 96 154 163 93 1,775 
			 
			 Country not known - - - - - - - - 1 10 11 
			 Great Britain 1,973 1,986 1,659 1,720 1,320 1,056 1,041 1,060 1,099 1,026 13,940 
			 (1) Provisional. (2) Up to 2005-06 only information for HSE's field operations directorate (FOD) were available on a regional basis in England, and only total figures for hazardous installations directorate (HID) and nuclear directorate (ND). Thereafter, data for all HSE directorates are presented within English regional figures. (3) Figures from 2006-07 exclude ORR prosecutions.

Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on its policy on the prosecution of firms in the construction industry alleged to be violating the provisions of health and safety legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Under the HSE's enforcement policy statement, prosecution is the expected outcome where an investigation of an incident has collected sufficient information of a serious breach of health and safety law to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and where it is in the public interest to prosecute. Individual decisions on prosecution are for HSE.

Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job centres in Scotland he expects to close in each of the next five years.

Chris Grayling: As the administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many job centres in Scotland he expects to close in each of the next five years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I can confirm there are no plans presently to close any Jobcentres in Scotland. However, we will need to keep our network under review. Under the terms of the Spending Review, DWP is being asked to make significant efficiencies in its work and for Jobcentre Plus this will mean a transformation of our business, exploiting technology and using the experience of our own people to drive out inefficiencies in our processes. Our Jobcentre network is an asset and vital to deliver customer service, but it is also a high proportion of our budget.
	To help achieve the level of efficiencies required we will be reviewing our Jobcentre network as part of an overall service delivery plan. That means looking at which locations we will deliver service from and how best to do so, working with local partners on opportunities for outreach or co-location. Once we have developed our plans we will share these with local stakeholders, including MPs, as part of our normal consultation arrangements for service delivery.

Jobcentre Plus: Voluntary Organisations

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for collaboration between job centres and voluntary organisations.

Chris Grayling: As the collaboration between Jobcentres and voluntary organisations is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh, I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what plans he has for collaboration between Jobcentres and voluntary organisations. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has developed strong national and local links with the voluntary and community sector. Our aim is to ensure that unemployed people can access advice and support from voluntary and community organisations, including information about volunteering opportunities through the Government's Work Together initiative.
	On 7 February we announced a new partnership between Jobcentre Plus and the voluntary sector, which will help people get back to work. Prince's Trust advisers and other local voluntary organisations will be co-located in a number of Jobcentres in the next few weeks, and around the country from April.
	This will strengthen the support available to unemployed people to help them successfully move into employment.

Jobcentres: Closures

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job centres were closed during the 2008 job centre closure programme; and what the planned number of such closures was at the start of that programme.

Chris Grayling: As the administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh, I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many job centres were closed during the 2008 job centre closure programme and what the planned number of such closures was at the start of that programme. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	54 Jobcentre Plus offices were closed during 2008 that were previously open to the public.
	These closures were as a result of local service delivery planning which took account of:
	the merger of the former Benefits Agency and Employment Service and opportunities to rationalise the estate where the two organisations had offices which, in many instances, were geographically close to each other; and
	a programme of modernising service delivery to our customers and planned future welfare reform changes. For example, the vast majority of our services, in common with most large, modern organisations, are now also delivered through the telephone and internet.

Marriage

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 627-8W, on marriage, whether the steps taken to mark Marriage Week apply to same sex relationships as well as relationships between men and women.

Chris Grayling: At the Marriage Week launch event the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend (Mr Duncan Smith), made a speech extolling the virtue of marriage in society. He made the point that, while marriage is unique, we should nonetheless be in favour of commitment in all forms of social engagement.
	He was clear that stability is strengthened when two people make an active and open commitment to each other.
	At the event the Secretary of State explained that:
	"Commitment...is crucial, which is why the Coalition supports civil partnerships, another expression of that binding commitment."
	For more details the speech can be read in its entirety at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/ministers-speeches/2011/08-02-11.shtml

Members: Correspondence

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to questions 34378, 34379 and 34380, on the work capability assessment, tabled on 13 January 2011 for answer on 17 January.

Chris Grayling: I replied to my hon. Friend's questions on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 816-7W.

Payroll

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees were enrolled in payroll giving in each year of its operation; and how many payroll givers there were in each such year.

Chris Grayling: This information is not available for DWP covering all years of its operation. We only hold data from April 2007 until January 2011 inclusive. In each year the average number of employees enrolled in payroll giving each month was:
	
		
			   Per month 
			 April 2007-March 2008 9,515 
			 April 2008-March 2009 8,762 
			 April 2009-March 2010 8,305 
			 April 2010-January 2011 8,216 
		
	
	The Department does not hold details of the number of payroll givers as payment are made through the Charities Trust.

Pensioners: Carer's Allowance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2011,  Official Report, column 148W, on Age UK, whether his Department is considering interim arrangements for the pensions credit and carers allowances, prior to the introduction of the universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Government announced at the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill that carers allowance will continue to exist as a universal benefit providing an independent income for carers and recognition of the important role they play.
	As carer's allowance will continue to exist as a separate benefit we will retain the link between its receipt and eligibility to the additional amount for caring in pension credit. However we have introduced a clause in the Welfare Reform Bill to amend the State Pension Credit Act which will give us the flexibility to set an alternative test which won't require a pension credit customer with caring responsibilities to first claim another benefit in order to receive the additional amount for caring.
	The detailed test for the award of the additional amount will be set out in regulations and will make the process for accessing the additional support for carers through pension credit more straightforward. We are currently considering the timing for the introduction of these changes.

Remploy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the level of operating surplus or deficit in each of the factories operated by Remploy in 2010-11.

Maria Miller: The Department does not routinely monitor Remploy's operating surplus or deficit at the individual factory level. The Department does however agree and monitor the operating result of Remploy's enterprise business as a whole.
	The following table, provided by Remploy, shows the operating result for each of Remploy's businesses for 2010-11 to date. Remploy do not monitor progress at factory level because it would not give an accurate picture of performance as some businesses account for sales centrally and have associated business office costs which are not apportioned at factory level.
	
		
			  Remploy operating result by business: 2010-11 (to January 2011) 
			  Business  Number of factories  Factories included in business  Operating loss( 1)  (£000) 
			 Automotive 4 Birmingham, Coventry, Derby and Huddersfield -2,018 
			 Building Products 2 Merthyr Tydfil and Oldham -3,818 
			 CCTV 0 - -491 
			 E-cycle 3 Porth, Preston and Heywood -5,014 
			 Electronics 3 Barking, Bolton and Southampton -2,975 
			 Furniture 3 Blackburn, Neath and Sheffield -6,106 
			 Healthcare 2 Chesterfield and Springburn -2,672 
			 Packaging 5 Burnley, Croespenmaen, Norwich, Portsmouth, and Sunderland -4,630 
			 Social Enterprises 5 Aberdeen, Bridgend, North London, Poole and Worksop -2,481 
			 Textiles 6 Cleator Moor, Clydebank, Cowdenbeath, Dundee, Leven and Stirling -5,568 
			 Commercial Furniture 8 Aberdare, Abertillery, Ashington, Birkenhead, Penzance, Newcastle upon Tyne, Swansea and Wrexham -9,340 
			 Office Fulfilment 6 Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester Lanarkshire North Staffs and Wigan -5,285 
			 Supply Chain 6 Acton, Gateshead, Leeds, Leicester, Pontefract and Spennymoor -3,866 
			 Filters 1 Barrow -544 
			 Managed Services - - -69 
			 EB Central - - -2,678 
			 Total 54 - -57,555 
			 (1) To January 2011

Remploy: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the salaries of Remploy staff; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The proposed Remploy pay remit for 2010-11 has been received from the company. The Secretary of State has agreed the £250 increase for employees paid £21,000 or less. Agreement on the remaining elements is expected shortly.
	The issue of pay was raised by trade union representatives at a meeting on 24 January.
	This Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, have to show restraint in the current economic climate. The approach to pay and bonuses for the current and previous years was negotiated by the previous Administration. Within the agreed remit, contractual arrangements between Remploy and individual staff, including the level of staff salaries, are a matter for the company. We are working with Remploy to ensure that appropriate pay restraint is applied in future years.

Remploy: Redundancy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ensure discussions take place between his Department and the recognised trade unions prior to the issuing of any redundancy notices by the management of Remploy.

Maria Miller: Consultation on the voluntary redundancy scheme is a management matter for Remploy. I have met trade union representatives to discuss issues facing Remploy, most recently on 24 January. I have encouraged the company and the trade unions to continue discussions to provide the best outcome for disabled people.

Social Fund: Motherwell

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund  (a) budgeting loans,  (b) crisis loans and  (c) community care grants for the purpose of buying television sets over the value of (i) £500 and (ii) £1,000 were made to residents of Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: In the case of budgeting loans, applicants are asked to tick which of seven categories they need help for, but are not asked to specify the items they require. Television sets would come under the category 'to buy furniture or household equipment'. Data are not available on the number of awards for each category.
	The number of crisis loans or community care grants initially awarded for the purpose of buying television sets over the value of (i) £500 or (ii) £1,000 to residents of Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in each of the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10 was extremely low, being recorded as nil or negligible.
	 Notes
	1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, the information given does not include applications which were processed clerically and had not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System by the end of the relevant financial year.
	2. Data are available for initial awards only. No information is available on the number of awards of the type described which were made after review.
	3. Exact numbers have not been given for data protection reasons. 'Nil or negligible' means less than five.
	 Source
	Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of tapering income for universal credit from  (a) widows' pensions,  (b) all private pensions and  (c) spouse maintenance at the rate of 65 per cent. rather than the proposed 100 per cent. rate.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives the estimated long-run Exchequer costs of tapering income from  (a) widows' pensions,  (b) all private pensions and  (c) spouse maintenance at 65% rather then the proposed 100%. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  The annual costs to the Exchequer of changing the taper for certain income streams under universal credit 
			   Payments  Exchequer costs (£ million) 
			  (a) Widows pensions 160 
			  (b) All private pensions 430 
			  (c) Spouse maintenance (1)- 
			 (1) Sample sizes are too small to provide a robust estimate 
		
	
	The changes have been modelled using the Department's policy simulation model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take-up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Analysis is only for those of working age. This is defined as those who are not yet eligible for state pension or pension credit.
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the savings limit for the receipt of universal credit to £20,000.

Chris Grayling: The annual cost to the Exchequer of increasing the savings limit for those in receipt of Universal Credit from £16,000 to £20,000 is estimated to be approximately £30 million a year in steady state (2010-11 prices). Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that Universal Credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available is for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the Universal Credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall Universal Credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the £16,000 saving limit for universal credit people who are  (a) in work and  (b) working for at least 16 hours per week.

Chris Grayling: The estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the £16,000 savings limit for Universal Credit for people who  (a) are in work is around £70 million and  (b) exempting those who jointly work at least 16 hours per week is also around £70 million. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that Universal Credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available is for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the Universal Credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall Universal Credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of introducing into universal credit an earnings disregard for second earners in a couple of  (a) £500,  (b) £1,000,  (c) £1,500,  (d) £2,000,  (e) £2,500 and  (f) £3,000 per year.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives the estimated long-run Exchequer costs for introducing various earnings disregards for second earners in a couple. It has been assumed that the disregard would be fixed at the stated level, without any reductions to reflect housing support, and would be available to couples where both are working any positive number of hours. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  The annual costs to the Exchequer of introducing various disregard levels for second earners under universal credit 
			   Earnings disregards  Exchequer costs( 1)  (£ million) 
			  (a) 500 130 
			  (b) 1,000 280 
			  (c) 1,500 430 
			  (d) 2,000 600 
			  (e) 2,500 780 
			  (f) 3,000 970 
			 (1) Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 
		
	
	The disregards have been modelled using the Department's policy simulation model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take-up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010/11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the  (a) cost and  (b) savings to the Exchequer of setting the universal credit taper at (i) 50 per cent., (ii) 55 per cent., (iii) 60 per cent. and (iv) 70 per cent. in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives an indicative estimate of the annual Exchequer cost (2010-11 prices) of alternative universal credit tapers. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  The annual Exchequer costs of adjusting to alternative universal credit taper options 
			   Taper (percentage)  Exchequer cost( 1)  (£ billion) 
			  (a) 50 4.6 
			  (b) 55 2.8 
			  (c) 60 1.3 
			  (d) 70 -1.2 
			 (1) Costs are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion 
		
	
	Year by year estimates for the next five years are not available at present. After the introduction of universal credit there will be a number of years of transition as existing cases migrate to the new system. The Department is considering how best to phase this transition.
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's policy simulation model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take-up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-150-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of introducing into the universal credit an earnings disregard for single people of  (a) £520,  (b) £780,  (c) £1,040,  (d) £1,300 and  (e) £1,560 per year.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives an estimate of the Exchequer costs of introducing an earnings disregard for single people in the universal credit. For the purposes of analysis it has been assumed that the disregard would also have a disregard floor at the same level. It has been assumed that the disregard would be fixed at the stated level, without any reductions to reflect housing support, and would be available to couples where both are working any positive number of hours. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  The annual costs to the Exchequer of various earnings disregards options for single people under universal credit 
			   Earnings Disregards  Exchequer costs( 1)  (£ million) 
			  (a) 520 130 
			  (b) 780 200 
			  (c) 1,040 270 
			  (d) 1,300 350 
			  (e) 1,560 430 
			 (1) Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million 
		
	
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's policy simulation model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take-up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010/11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the household component of the couple disregard floor in universal credit from £520 to  (a) £780,  (b) £1,040 and  (c) £1,560 per year.

Chris Grayling: Table 1 as follows gives the estimated Exchequer costs for increasing the couple disregard floor from £520 to  (a) £780,  (b) £1,040,  (c) £1,560 per annum. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  Table 1: The annual costs to the Exchequer of increasing the earnings disregard floors for  couples under universal c redit 
			   Earnings disregards  (£)  Exchequer costs  (£)( 1) 
			  (a) 780 100 
			  (b) 1,040 200 
			  (c) 1,560 410 
			 (1 )Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 
		
	
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform.
	Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the household component of the lone parent disregard floor of universal credit from £1,560 to  (a) £1,820,  (b) £2,080 and  (c) £2,340 per year.

Chris Grayling: Table 1 as follows gives the estimated Exchequer costs from increasing the lone parent disregard floor in universal credit from £1,560 to  (a) £1,820,  (b) 2,080,and  (c) £2,340 per annum. Analysis presents the long-run costs which assume that universal credit has been fully implemented and there is no longer any transitional protection in the system.
	
		
			  Table 1: The annual costs to the Exchequer of changing the disregard floors for lone parents under universal credit 
			   Earnings disregards (£)  Exchequer costs (£ million)( 1) 
			  (a) 1,820 60 
			  (b) 2,080 120 
			  (c) 2,340 190 
			 (1) Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 
		
	
	This proposal has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS); the latest FRS data available are for 2008-09. Costs have been estimated on the basis of imperfect take up and reflect assumptions about take up behaviour pre and post the universal credit reform. Analysis is presented based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15-incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating.
	However, all costs are presented in current (2010-11) prices so do not reflect inflation.
	Analysis does not include any behavioural impacts (i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work).
	Exchequer costs include any change in overall universal credit expenditure and any impact on income tax or national insurance. We have not assumed any impact on indirect taxation.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who are ineligible for benefits or tax credits who will be entitled to universal credit.

Chris Grayling: Departmental modelling estimates that, once universal credit is fully implemented, approximately 400,000 households (containing 600,000 adults and 100,000 children) who we would expect to be ineligible for tax credits and benefits under the current system will be entitled to universal credit.
	This has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). Analysis is based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15, incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. It does not include any behavioural impacts i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who are eligible to receive benefits or tax credits but are not claiming them who will claim and receive universal credit.

Chris Grayling: Departmental modelling estimates that once Universal Credit is fully implemented, approximately 1.4 million households (containing 1.8 million adults and 1.3 million children) who we would not expect to claim their full entitlement to benefits and tax credits under the current system, will claim and receive Universal Credit.
	This has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). Analysis is based on a projection of the FRS 2008-09 to 2014-15, incorporating forecast demographic change, announced policy changes and uprating. It assumes an improved rate of take-up of benefits under Universal Credit, but does not include any behavioural impacts i.e. movements into work or changing hours of work.

Social Security Benefits: Cumbernauld

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the change in the amount of benefit payments to individuals in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East constituency arising from the change in benefits uprating from retail prices index to consumer prices index over the comprehensive spending review period.

Chris Grayling: Data on change in the amount of benefit payments on the constituency level are not available.
	Benefits which were previously increased in line with the retail prices index (RPI) and are now linked to the consumer prices index (CPI) will receive a 3.1% increase in April 2011, rather than a 4.6% increase.
	Constituency level data on DWP benefit expenditure is available here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/pc_expenditure.xls
	The proposed rates of benefits for the 2011-12 tax year are available here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/home/topics/delivery/benefit_uprating/index.asp

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure employment for disabled persons no longer eligible for benefits under proposed changes to eligibility criteria.

Maria Miller: As part of the spending review announcement a time limit will, subject to parliamentary approval, be introduced of one year for those claiming contributory employment and support allowance and who are placed in the work related activity group. Individuals may be eligible for income related ESA after this one year period. The Government are committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same employment opportunities to find and stay in work, regardless of their disability or benefit status. Significant support is available to support disabled people into long-term sustainable employment.
	Work Choice, which was launched in October last year, provides tailored support to help disabled people, who face the most complex barriers to employment, to find and stay in work, and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual. Work Choice is voluntary and available regardless of any benefits being claimed.
	Access to Work provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and, thus, stay in work.
	Remploy delivers a range of employment and development opportunities for disabled people under the Work Choice programme.
	Residential training is available for unemployed disabled adults whose needs cannot be met through any other government funded programmes.
	The Work Programme will be introduced this year to provide more personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people. Contributory ESA customers will be able to volunteer for the Work Programme, and if they wish, remain on the programme after their benefit has come to an end, ensuring that they receive all the support they need to help them return to work.
	I have also commissioned an independent review of the support the Government provide to disabled people who want to work. This review will be conducted by Liz Sayce, chief executive of the disability organisation RADAR.

Social Security Benefits: Hearing Impairment and Learning Disability

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) profoundly deaf people and  (b) people with learning difficulties who will be re-assessed to determine continued eligibility for disability living allowance and its successor benefit;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of re-assessing the work capability of people with learning difficulties in order to determine their continued eligibility for disability living allowance and its successor benefit;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of re-assessing the work capability of profoundly deaf people in order to determine their continued eligibility for disability living allowance and its successor benefit;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of re-assessing people with learning difficulties in order to determine their continued eligibility for disability living allowance and its successor benefit;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of re-assessing profoundly deaf people in order to determine their continued eligibility for disability living allowance and its successor benefit.

Maria Miller: The consultation document Disability Living Allowance reform, published on 6 December 2010, set out our proposals for disability living allowance reform. We will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Personal independence payment will be available to disabled people regardless of whether they are in or out of work and the assessment will not examine someone's capacity to work; rather it will determine how their impairment affects their ability to carry out a range of activities key to everyday life.
	From 2013 we will begin reassessing all existing working-age disability living allowance caseload and transferring people to personal independence payment where appropriate.
	The consultation has closed and we are considering the responses received before we publish a formal response. However, the Welfare Reform Bill introducing the high level legislative changes necessary was introduced to the House on 16 February 2011. In the meantime we are continuing to work on the design of personal independence payment and the new assessment, which we are developing in collaboration with a group of independent specialists in health, disability and social care, including disabled people. I am, therefore, unable at this time to comment on how the new assessment will work, its likely costs or make estimates of its impact on people with specific health conditions or disabilities.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had their benefit entitlements  (a) withdrawn and  (b) reduced during the trial of the reassessments of customers receiving incapacity benefit and income support in north east Scotland.

Maria Miller: The final information requested is not available as not all customers have completed their reassessment period. However, to date, a total of 1,166 decisions have been made for customers involved in the IB reassessment trial. Of these, 834 customers have been awarded employment and support allowance.
	No one moving from their existing benefits to employment and support allowance will see a reduction in the level of their benefit entitlement at the point of change. A transitional addition payment will be awarded to protect the customer's overall benefit income, this means that:
	where people who are eligible for ESA receive more on existing incapacity benefits than the appropriate ESA rate, their existing rate of benefit will be protected at the point of conversion; and
	where people who are eligible for ESA receive less on incapacity benefits than the appropriate ESA rate, their benefit will immediately be increased to the ESA rate on conversion.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department rural-proofed its decision to raise the state pension age for women.

Steve Webb: Although the state pension age is not dependent on where a person lives, the differences in life expectancies between geographical areas in the UK was considered as part of our review.
	We have published a full equality impact assessment, including an assessment of how women may be affected by the proposed changes, and consider the proposed changes will not have any specific impact on rural area.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has assessed whether his revised timetable for the increase in the state pension age for women is compliant with the Equalities Act 2010.

Steve Webb: The proposed changes to state pension age contained in the Pensions Bill 2011 are compliant with the Equalities Act 2010.
	An assessment is contained in the equality impact assessment which accompanied the Government's White Paper "A sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66".

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has conducted an equality impact assessment of his revised timetable for the increase in the state pension age for women.

Steve Webb: An equality impact assessment accompanied the Government's White Paper "A sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66".

Unemployed People: Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to provide co-ordinated volunteering opportunities for people who expect to become unemployed.

Chris Grayling: The Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service supports people at the risk of redundancy find alternative paid employment. Discussions can include the possibility of volunteering if this is seen as a helpful move towards achieving this end.
	Local Jobcentre Plus offices are working with voluntary and community sector organisations to ensure that unemployed people have access to advice and information about volunteering and local opportunities, delivered through the Government's Work Together initiative.
	Jobcentre Plus announced on 7 February a new partnership with the voluntary sector which will help people get back to work. Prince's Trust advisers and other local voluntary organisations will start to appear in Jobcentres wherever possible from April 2011, starting in a few locations over the coming weeks.

Unemployed: Social Conditions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the happiness and well-being levels of  (a) recently unemployed and  (b) long-term unemployed people.

Chris Grayling: The DWP is very interested in wider measures of wellbeing and how these can be used to inform policy development. In that regard we are closely involved with the ONS activities on measuring subjective wellbeing and, as surveys to measure wellbeing are developed in 2011, we will be looking at the emerging evidence on the relationship between employment status and well-being.
	An additional source of information which we are aware of is the Economic and Social Research Council led survey "Understanding Society". This will also collect information on well-being (life satisfaction) by employment status so will provide some valuable insight. The Department is contributing funding towards this survey.
	More specifically, DWP already has under way a detailed survey of JSA claimants and their job-search experiences which will include various measures of their physical and mental health as well as their wider wellbeing. We expect this to report by the end of 2011.

Unemployment Benefits: Sign Language

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those claiming out-of-work benefits are British sign language users.

Maria Miller: The information requested is not available. Information on whether a claimant is a British Sign Language (BSL) user is not routinely recorded for all claimants.
	However, in order to facilitate effective communication with its customers, the Department supplies face-to-face interpreting for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and who communicate using BSL. The Department provides around 100 BSL interpreters per month and also provides lip speakers, sign language communicators and note takers.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of new claimants he expects to receive universal credit in October 2013.

Maria Miller: We will start to take new claims to universal credit from October 2013. The proportion of new claims receiving universal credit in that month will depend on more detailed transition plans, which have yet to be set out.

CABINET OFFICE

BBC: Central Office of Information

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussion  (a) he,  (b) officials in his Department and  (c) special advisers in his Department have had with the Director-General of the BBC on the assumption by the BBC of responsibility for material commissioned by the Central Office of Information.

Francis Maude: No Cabinet Office official or special adviser has held discussions with the Director General of the BBC on the assumption by the BBC of responsibility for material commissioned by the Central Office of Information.

BBC: Central Office of Information

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to answer Question 32583, tabled on 20 December 2010, on discussions with the BBC on material commissioned by the Central Office of Information.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today.

Big Society Bank

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to seek financial support from the financial services sectors in addition to dormant accounts to provide the initial capital base of the Big Society Bank.

Nick Hurd: The four main UK banks have agreed to provide £200 million of capital over two years to set up the Big Society Bank.
	This is a very welcome gesture from the banks, and will significantly raise the amount of finance available to the Big Society Bank, helping to ensure the growth of a sustainable social investment market. These funds will be in addition to the English portion of dormant account funding.

Big Society Initiative

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what voluntary organisations the chief executive of the big society initiative has met as part of the development of that initiative.

Nick Hurd: Gareth Davies became executive director of the Office for Civil Society in November 2010.
	He regularly meets members of voluntary sector organisations at roundtables and other stakeholder events. Most recently he has had meetings with Dame Elizabeth Hoodless, CSV, Dame Julia Cleverdon, BITC, and Dame Barbara Stocking, Oxfam.

Big Society Initiative

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contact  (a) he and  (b) officials of his Department have had with the Association of Chief Executives of voluntary organisations on the development of the big society initiative.

Nick Hurd: The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) is one of the Office for Civil Society's current strategic partners, which involves it representing the views of chief executives of the voluntary sector to government.
	As such, my officials and I have frequent contact with ACEVO on many areas of policy relating to civil society and big society.
	For example, ACEVO has actively engaged with the public service reform agenda and played a leading role in facilitating the consultation for the Modernising Commissioning Green Paper.

Big Society Initiative

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what research his Department undertook on the big society initiative prior to its launch.

Nick Hurd: The big society is not the result of research undertaken in Cabinet Office, it was developed outside Government. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister set out their commitment to growing the big society at an event in Downing street on 18 May 2010, shortly after entering office.

Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the average charitable donation per head in each socio-economic group in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: Data referenced in the Giving Green Paper show that between 2005-06 and 2007-08 the proportion of individuals giving to charity in each income quartile remained stable. Between 2004-05 to 2006-07, the percentage of high level donors (those giving £100 or more a month) in the upper income quartile increased from 11% to 16%.

Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of funding received by UK charities was attributable to Government bodies in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the likely proportion in each of the next four years.

Nick Hurd: The proportion of income received by UK charities from Government bodies is estimated in the National Council for Voluntary Organisation's UK Civil Society Almanac 2010 as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2009-10 (1)- 
			 2008-09 (1)- 
			 2007-08 36 
			 2006-07 35 
			 2005-06 34 
			 2004-05 32 
			 2003-04 32 
			 2002-03 (2)- 
			 2001-02 35 
			 2000-01 32 
			 (1 )Data not available as yet (2) Data not available 
		
	
	The likely proportion of funding to UK charities in each of the next four years is yet to be assessed.

Charities: Voluntary Organisations

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend charity law to allow greater support to local self-help groups staffed by volunteers.

Nick Hurd: The Government are committed to reducing the amount of regulation, monitoring and reporting that is imposed on charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. A Civil Society Red Tape Taskforce, chaired by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, has been set up to help the Government meet this commitment. Lord Hodgson expects to be able to report, with recommendations, to Cabinet Office and Business, Innovation and Skills Ministers in May.
	A review of the Charities Act 2006 is due to take place later this year. This will provide an opportunity to consider changes to charity law that would help small volunteer-run charities, while maintaining high levels of public trust and confidence.

Childbirth

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in which 100 wards or Lower Super Output Areas the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest percentages of low birth weight babies occurred in the last period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
	.
	The tables list the 100 Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) that have the a) highest (Table 1) and b) lowest (Table 2) percentages of low birthweight (under 2,500 grams) live births for 2007-2009, the most recent years for which figures are available.
	There were more than 100 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) where there were no low birthweight births and it would not be possible to identify the lowest 100 of these. Therefore data have been provided at MSOA level.
	A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons library.
	Information on live births is routinely published by different characteristics of birth and is available at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14408

Citizenship

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress has been made on developing a National Citizen Service; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: 12 providers have been appointed to run National Citizen Service (NCS) pilots for 16-year-olds in summer 2011. Over 11,000 NCS places will be available in a wide range of locations in England, and those organisations are now in the process of attracting young people to join their pilot schemes. The Cabinet Office, in conjunction with the Department for Education and the Department for Communities and Local Government, continues to work closely with our 2011 pilot providers and to plan for the second year of NCS pilots in 2012.

Community Development: Leeds

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in the establishment of community organisers in Leeds to date.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 11 February 2011
	Cabinet Office is close to announcing and appointing the national partner for the management of the Community Organiser programme. The partner will train 5,000 Community Organisers over the lifetime of this Parliament, working primarily with communities with significant deprivation and low social capital. Initial areas expressing an interest include cities across England. More details will be available shortly.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker) on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 853W.

Giving Green Paper

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to implement proposals to support charitable giving in the Giving Green Paper.

Nick Hurd: The Giving Green Paper sets out a number of proposals to support giving and the consultation on the Giving Green Paper is still ongoing. The consultation will close on 9 March 2011. Following this the Cabinet Office will publish the Giving White Paper which will set out the proposals to be taken forward and how they will be implemented.

Investment: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the monetary value was of foreign direct investment from Israel in each year since 2009.

Nick Hurd: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces estimates for UK Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) based on survey data collected by the ONS and Bank of England. Headline figures from the annual surveys are published in a Statistical Bulletin, "Foreign Direct Investment", which is available from the UK National Statistics website. The latest figures available at the level of counterpart country are for the year 2009.
	During 2009, there was a net flow of £20 million of direct investment from Israel into the UK. The overall level of Israeli direct investment in the UK at the end of 2009 was £441 million.

Lord Browne of Madingley

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the role and responsibilities are of Lord Browne of Madingley on his Department's board;
	(2)  what recent discussions Ministers and officials of his Department have had with Lord Browne of Madingley on governance across Whitehall since his appointment.

Francis Maude: Lord Browne is both the Government Lead Non-Executive Board Member and the Cabinet Office Lead Non-Executive Board Member. The roles and responsibilities associated with these positions are set out in the Enhanced Departmental Boards Protocol, which is published on the Cabinet Office website, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Mutual Societies: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has allocated to financial support for  (a) co-operatives,  (b) mutual societies,  (c) charities and  (d) social enterprises in 2011-12.

Nick Hurd: The Office for Civil Society will invest around £470 million over the SR10 period in programmes for civil society organisations such as co-operatives, mutuals, charities and social enterprises; around £188 million of this in 2011-12. This includes for example the Transition Fund which will support organisations to adapt to a changing funding environment. Many of these funds have not been allocated to specific organisations at this stage, therefore it is not possible to provide detailed information on organisational allocations.

Office for Civil Society: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the budget is for the Office for Civil Society.

Nick Hurd: The 2010-11 budget for the Office for Civil Society is published as part of the spring supplementary estimates for the Cabinet Office. This is available on the HM Treasury website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_pse_spring10_11.htm

Public Opinion

Natascha Engel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanism the Government use to assess issues raised by members of the public through the Your Freedom website  (a) for regulatory burdens,  (b) cost savings to the Exchequer,  (c) impacts and  (d) compliance with the convention on human rights.

Nick Hurd: The Your Freedom website was managed by the Cabinet Office but individual Departments are responsible for analysing ideas relating to their own policy areas. The process of analysing ideas related to Cabinet Office policy is ongoing. Any considered for implementation will undergo a range of tests, including an equality impacts assessment and cost/benefit analysis in line with established departmental processes.
	Information relating to individual Government Departments' assessment of ideas relating to their own policy areas is not held centrally.

Public Service: Contractors

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with non-profit contractors on their potential contribution to the provision of public services.

Nick Hurd: Government are committed to opening up public services, including enhancing the role of non-profit contractors. We published Modernising Commissioning: Increasing the role of charities, social enterprise, mutuals and co-operatives in public service delivery, in December 2010. There were approximately 400 responses to this paper, the majority of which came from civil society organisations. The Prime Minister, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for Civil Society have met with a number of organisations on this issue. These responses and discussions have informed the development of the Opening Public Services White Paper, due to be published shortly. In addition, Cabinet Office is working with non-profit contractors and statutory partners in nine local areas to develop the Local Integrated Service concept.

Regulation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress the Red Tape Taskforce has made; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: This independent taskforce, led by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbots, is considering the red tape that affects civil society organisations and will recommend how to reduce its impact. This will contribute to the Government's aim of making it easier to run a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation. The taskforce is coming to the end of its evidence gathering phase.
	The taskforce is grateful to the sector, which has submitted more than six hundred responses to calls for evidence, and to people who have given their time to be interviewed. The evidence is currently being considered by the taskforce, which intends to report to Ministers in the spring.

Small Businesses

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of  (a) micro,  (b) small and  (c) medium-sized businesses in (i) Devon and (ii) England.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized businesses in (i) Devon and (ii) England.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of enterprises in England and Devon by employee size band.
	
		
			  Count of enterprises in England and Devon by employee size band 
			   Employee size band 
			   0-9 (Micro)  10-49 (Small)  50-249 (Medium)  250 + (Large)  Total 
			 England 1,603,585 158,360 28,455 7,510 1,797,910 
			 Devon county 30,580 2,695 380 65 33,720

Social Enterprises

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of long-term trends in the number of  (a) community social enterprises and  (b) corporate social enterprises.

Nick Hurd: As with other businesses, there is no single legal form for social enterprises. While it is therefore difficult to categorise them, figures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' Annual Small Business Survey suggest that there are more than 60,000 social enterprises in the UK working across all areas of the economy and enabling communities to take responsibility and solve local problems. Evidence also indicates that social enterprises have fared much the same as SMEs in the recession, and indeed a higher proportion of social enterprises compared to SMEs have managed to increase their turnover in the last 12 months.

Stress

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will assess the effects of trends in levels of work-related stress on participation in civic society.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office has not made an assessment of the effects of trends in levels of work-related stress on participation in civic society. However, the government is keen to encourage social action so that people feel that they can play a more active part in society through the giving of time and money. The recently announced Giving Green Paper focuses on how to build on the excellent contribution already made by many people across the country, by making social action more of a social norm.

Transition Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much has been allocated from the Transition Fund in the financial year 2010-11 to date;
	(2)  whether he expects to reopen the opportunity for applications to the Transition Fund for the financial year 2011-12;
	(3)  on what timetable he expects monies from the Transition Fund to be distributed;
	(4)  how many applications have been received for funding from the Transition Fund to date.

Nick Hurd: There have been 18 awards worth a total of £1.7 million from the Transition Fund so far. There are no plans to reopen the Transition Fund at present. We expect to distribute £10 million this financial year by the end of March 2011 and a further £90 million for next financial year to be distributed by the end of May 2011. There were just over 1,700 applications to the Transition Fund.

Transition Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what means charities were notified of the opening of the window for the submission of applications for the Transition Fund.

Nick Hurd: The £100 million Transition Fund was announced by the Minister for Civil Society on 30 November 2010 at a conference for civil society organisations organised by the House Magazine. A press notice was issued to accompany the announcement. The Office for Civil Society Strategic Partners were informed via email and asked to cascade the message to their members. Big Fund, our delivery partner, arranged a series of 16 regional events across the country to inform local organisations about the fund. A web page was launched on the Big Fund's website to promote the fund. An email list of expressions of interest in the fund was collated and responded to once the fund was launched.

Transition Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department provided support to small charities for the process of making applications to the Transition Fund.

Nick Hurd: Big Fund, our delivery partner, arranged a series of 16 regional events across the country to inform local organisations, including small charities about the fund and explain how to apply.
	A web page was launched on the Big Fund's website to promote the fund and provide further advice and guidance to charities interested in applying. There was also an inquiry line set up to help organisations that had questions about the application process.

Transition Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to provide support for charities that work in sectors that do not qualify for the Transition Fund.

Nick Hurd: The Transition Fund is targeted at supporting civil society organisations that work in a broad range of frontline public service delivery areas and are therefore most vulnerable to reductions in public spending. We have also consulted on future support for a stronger civil society and more announcements will follow shortly.

Transition Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information his Department holds on the geographic distribution of funds allocated through the Transition Fund.

Nick Hurd: We made first announcements from the £100 million Transition Fund on 15 February 2011. These were to charities based in the following locations: Yorkshire and Humber, Northeast, East Midlands, Southwest, Southeast, London. There will be more announcements of funding over the coming months and so more information on geographical distribution will be available when all the allocations have been made.

Transition Fund: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Transition Fund applications have been received from organisations in the London borough of Bexley.

Nick Hurd: Two applications to the Transition Fund have been received from organisations in the London borough of Bexley.

Voluntary Organisations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress his Department has made on its Modernising Commissioning Green Paper.

Nick Hurd: Cabinet Office received a significant number of written and oral contributions to the consultation on the "Modernising Commissioning" Green Paper, both through consultation events across England and written submission. As outlined in the Green Paper, these contributions are currently informing the development of the "Opening Public Services" White Paper, which will be published shortly.

Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the reason for trends in levels of participation by  (a) unemployed people and  (b) pensioners in informal volunteering since 2008-09;
	(2)  what reasons his Department has identified for the trends in levels of formal volunteering in each socio-economic group;
	(3)  what information his Department holds on levels of  (a) formal and  (b) informal volunteering in each socio-economic group in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: Data from the Government's Citizenship Survey provides the levels of volunteering among retired people and unemployed people who participated in regular (at least once a month) informal volunteering in England, plus a breakdown by socio-economic group.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of unemployed people( 1)  participating in informal volunteering (at least once a month) in England, by year 
			   Informal volunteering( 2)  (percentage) 
			 2008-09 4 
			 2009-10 3 
			 (1) Unemployed people are defined as out of paid work but looking for employment (in the four weeks before interview). (2) None of the year-on-year changes for unemployed people is statistically significant-there are low numbers of unemployed people answering this question meaning that large percentage point changes are required to detect a difference. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of pensioners participating in informal volunteering (at least once a month) in England, by year 
			   Informal volunteering( 1)  (percentage) 
			 2008-09 36 
			 2009-10 29 
			 (1) Year on year significant changes for informal volunteering were from 2008-09 to 2009-10 (a decrease from 36% to 29%-though this change may, in part, reflect a change in the way the question was asked in 2009-10), for retired people. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Proportion participating in formal and informal volunteering (at least once a month) by socio-economic group, England, by year 
			  Percentage 
			   Formal volunteering  Informal volunteering 
			  Socio-economic classifications( 1)  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Higher/lower managerial and professions 35 34 33 38 38 32 
			 Intermediate occupations/small employers 27 26 25 35 35 30 
			 Lower supervisory and technical/semi-routine 22 20 20 34 31 28 
			 Routine occupations 17 14 16 31 32 24 
			 Never worked/long term unemployed 19 18 13 30 29 21 
			 Full time students 26 30 30 39 41 32 
			 Not stated/classified 19 20 17 39 27 24 
			 (1) Different socio-economic classifications were used in the Citizenship Survey for 2005, 2003 and 2001. 
		
	
	In relation to the reasons for these trends, the Citizenship Survey has consistently shown, since 2005, that the main barriers to formal volunteering for all groups are related to 'work commitments', 'looking after children/the home', 'people doing other things with their spare time' and 'not hearing about opportunities to get involved'. The Citizenship Survey does not report on the barriers to informal volunteering.
	Encouraging social action, including volunteering is one of the three aims of the Government's vision for a big society. To support this aim, in December 2010 the Government published the Giving Green Paper. The Green Paper sought to start a debate on how we can make social action a norm and encourage more people to give their time, including removing barriers to volunteering.

Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has made an assessment of the effects of levels of volunteering on levels of civic skills.

Nick Hurd: We have not made an assessment of how levels of volunteering affect levels of civic skills; these being those skills that are necessary to enable someone to play an active role as a citizen within society. However, we firmly believe that volunteering, along with other forms of social action, supports individual personal development and can enable volunteers to become more rounded and active citizens.
	Statistics do show that volunteers feel that they are able to gain skills through their volunteering roles. For example the results of the 2007 Helping Out Survey, published by the Cabinet Office, show that 61% of respondents said that their volunteering role allowed them to gain new skills.
	Encouraging social action, including volunteering, is a key aspect of the big society agenda. Government are aiming to do this through specific programmes, such as Community Organisers, which will aim to train 5,000 people to act as catalysts for social action within communities. In addition Government are making new funding opportunities available to the voluntary and community sector, including up to £82.5 million in volunteering funds announced in the Giving Green Paper, which was published in December 2010.

Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made on the Volunteering Infrastructure programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent progress has been made in implementing the Volunteering Match Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Volunteering Infrastructure programme and Volunteering Match Fund were announced in the recently published Giving Green Paper. The details of both are under consideration, and further information on how they will be taken forward and implemented will be outlined in the forthcoming Giving White Paper due to be published in March 2011.

Voluntary Work

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has for the regional distribution of the proposed 5,000 community organisers.

Nick Hurd: The coalition Government have committed to train 5,000 community organisers over the lifetime of this parliament. We will soon announce the national partner for this programme, who will develop and deliver the training framework. Their approach seeks to embed community organisers in communities and organisations that can host them. 10 "kick-start" partners have been identified across England and a regional spread will develop as the programme progresses.

Voluntary Work: Public Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will assess the effect on levels of volunteering of reductions in public sector expenditure.

Nick Hurd: I meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary and community sector to discuss the impact on their work of the current reductions in public spending.
	We are facing the largest peacetime deficit in our history and charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises cannot be immune from the necessary reductions in spending. It is as important for them as for the rest of society that we get public finances under control.
	Despite the reductions, Government are committed to working to encourage more social action, including volunteering, as creating a culture of giving time and money is a key aspect in realising the vision for a big society.
	We are developing new funding opportunities for charities and voluntary groups, including investing up £82.5 million in funds specifically aimed at the development of volunteering. These funds will include a match fund to encourage private sector investment and a fund to support local volunteering infrastructure. In addition we are engaged in a range of programmes to encourage social action, including the National Citizen Service and Community Organisers programme. Although we anticipate increases in levels of volunteering it would be unrealistic to accurately put a figure on what these might look like at this early stage.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by how much he estimates carbon dioxide emissions from domestic properties will change as a result of the introduction of the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to meeting the economy wide emissions reductions specified by carbon budgets. These require a 34% reduction in emissions by 2020 relative to 1990 levels.
	The impact assessment(1) published alongside the introduction of the current Energy Bill included illustrative examples of the potential savings the Green Deal could deliver. These examples suggest that in the domestic sector, the impact of the Green Deal could be a saving of between 3.9 and 5.9MtCO2e per year in 2020. These examples are only illustrative as the details of the Green Deal policy are still to be determined. More robust estimates will be provided alongside consultation documents later this year.
	(1) www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf

Carbon Emissions: Shipping and Aviation

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of UK carbon dioxide emissions he estimates are attributable to  (a) shipping and  (b) aviation.

Gregory Barker: DECC published final estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions by source for the period 1990 to 2009 on 1 February 2011. Shipping and aviation emissions are provided at both the domestic and international level (see following table). International shipping and aviation emissions are reported but following IPCC guidance do not count towards the UK totals.
	
		
			  Emissions by source-2009 
			   Million tonnes, as CO 2  Percentage of UK total 
			 Domestic aviation 2.0 0.4 
			 Domestic shipping 1.5 0.3 
			 UK total emissions (including LULUCF and excluding international aviation and shipping) 473.7 100 
			 International aviation 32.7 n/a 
			 International shipping 10.5 n/a 
			  Note:  Coverage: United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. Excludes all overseas territories.   Source:  DECC, 2011.

Carbon Sequestration

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the  (a) average height,  (b) minimum required height and  (c) maximum potential height of absorber towers required for future coal and gas fired power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage technology.

Gregory Barker: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is only at the demonstration stage. Consequently the range and absolute values for heights of absorber towers can only be provided as an indication.
	Current estimates are that absorber towers would range from about 40m for pre-combustion capture technology to 60-85m for post-combustion. The actual heights of towers will be subject to project specific factors and the rate of technological maturation.
	Note that one of the capture technologies-oxyfuel-does not use absorber towers.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice.

Gregory Barker: No formal assessment has been undertaken of how the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has adhered to the Cabinet Office publication "Principles of Good Employment Practice". However, processes and controls are in place to ensure that the principles are complied with on an ongoing basis by the following means:
	All tender documents which are issued by DECC follow the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) best practice guidance.
	The Department's competitive tender processes ensure that suppliers comply with OGC guidance. Evidence of compliance is requested in tender documents.
	The Department reviews its procurement procedures and documentation regularly to ensure continuing compliance with OGC guidance.
	The Department uses outcome based specifications wherever appropriate.
	Procurement staff seek opportunities to promote skills training, qualifications and apprenticeships in contracts.
	The Department's standard terms and conditions contain clauses covering discrimination, disability and race equality. Should a breach of these conditions occur, the Department has the ultimate option to terminate the contract.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for which services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: For the current financial year, in the nine months to 31 December 2010 the Department employed one interpreter at a cost of £875.00 in connection with overseas travel.
	In this period the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority spend on providing interpretation and translation services for the bilingual (Welsh/English) sessions of the four Wylfa Site Stakeholder Group meetings was £2,454.85 and for the two meetings of the Trawsfynydd Site Stakeholder Group was £1,037.60. These are statutory services under the Welsh Language Act of 1993. One interpreter is present at each meeting together with wireless headsets for all attendees to hear the translation from Welsh to English. Interpreters are sometimes used during NDA overseas visits but costs cannot be separately identified.
	The above figures exclude VAT.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: Since May 2010,  (a) 53 actual and  (b) 52.5 full-time equivalent civil servants have left the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: At 1 January 2011, the Department of Energy and Climate Change had  (a) 1,178 actual and  (b) 1,154.25 full-time equivalent civil servants.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010.

Gregory Barker: In May 2010, the Department of Energy and Climate Change had  (a) 1,060 actual and  (b) 1,036.17 full-time equivalent civil servants.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Gregory Barker: Six statutory instruments made by the Department have come in to force since 18 November 2010 but before 8 February 2011. They are:
	The Justification Decision (Generation of Electricity by the EPR Nuclear Reactor) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2844)-came into force on 30 November 2010.
	The Justification Decision (Generation of Electricity by the AP1000 Nuclear Reactor) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2845)-came into force on 30 November 2010.
	The Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Handling (Designated Technical Matters) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2850)-came into force on 30 November 2010.
	The Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2715)-came into force on 5 December 2010.
	The Submarine Pipelines (Designated Owners) Order 2010 (SI 2010/3048)-came into force on 5 January 2011.
	The Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/84)-came into force on 24 January 2011.

Departmental Regulation

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked since 7 December 2010.

Gregory Barker: Since 7 December 2010, the Department has not revoked any statutory instruments in full.
	However, the Energy Bill, introduced into the House of Lords on 8 December 2010, sets out proposals to repeal the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) in England, Scotland and Wales. This will reduce regulatory burdens, support the Government's localism agenda and remove redundant legislation from the statute book.
	DECC is committed to reducing the burden of regulation on UK business, and a series of internal and external exercises have been or are being conducted towards this aim. For example, in June 2010 my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland), responsible for the Department's regulatory agenda, wrote to 250 of the Department's key stakeholders asking for their views on ways to reduce DECC's regulatory burden. The response letter from Lord Marland and a summary of responses to this exercise was published in November 2010 on the DECC internet site:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/betterreg/better reg.aspx
	Following on from this exercise, DECC plans to repeal a number of statutory instruments as well as powers under primary legislation (in total, 28 repeals). The exact processes for making the repeals are still being explored (suitable vehicles for the repeals are being considered, and consultation with relevant parties such as the devolved Administrations needs to take place for certain policies).

Electricity Generation: Foreign Investment in UK

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the proposed changes to the electricity market on the ability of the UK to attract investment in demand-side measures.

Charles Hendry: The proposed reforms to the electricity market, and in particular the capacity mechanism, will encourage demand reduction measures (negawatts) to compete on an equal basis with supply side generation. We have no specific estimate for the level of investment that will be made in demand-side measures, but the EMR reforms will support demand-side investment as a proportion of the estimated £110 billion capital required to support new generation by 2020.

Energy: EU Action

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what agreements on energy subsidy reform were reached at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 4 February 2011.

Charles Hendry: The European Council agreed on further work between the Commission and member states on the implementation of the renewable energy directive. There was no specific agreement on energy subsidy reform. The terms of national support schemes are a matter for member states within European rules.

Energy: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in what proportion of privately-owned homes valued  (a) up to £100,000,  (b) between £100,000 and £250,000,  (c) between £250,000 and £500,000,  (d) between £500,000 and £750,000,  (e) £750,000 and £1 million and  (f) over £1 million his Department expects energy efficiency measures to be installed through the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: Green Deal finance will help householders to invest in energy efficiency measures; take-up will not depend on, or be determined by, the value of the property. Indicative analysis suggests that the price of a property rarely reflects its level of energy efficiency which would indicate that owners of properties in all price bands will be able to benefit from the Green Deal. The proposed Energy Company Obligation component of Green Deal will focus a major part of its effort on subsidised offerings to vulnerable households on low incomes, which should help to drive take-up across the spectrum of property value, including in less expensive properties.
	No estimates of take-up have yet been made, but work is underway to develop understanding of this area and the recent Green Deal Impact Assessment provides illustrative scenarios to assist debate.

Energy: Prices

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the merits of implementing a cap on the amount by which gas and electricity companies can increase prices to the consumer in any given period.

Charles Hendry: Effective competition is the key to ensuring that prices are as low as possible for consumers. Ofgem, the market regulator, monitors the market closely to ensure consumers pay a fair price for their energy and British residential customers pay some of the lowest prices for gas and electricity in the EU. Following the recent announcement of price increases by some energy suppliers, Ofgem has launched a review of the retail energy market to see if further action is needed to protect customers, which we welcome. Ofgem plans to complete the review by March 2011.

Fuel Oil: Regulation

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to improve regulation of the domestic heating oil market.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 21 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 55-56WS, concerning the off-grid energy market. I am keen that the reasons for the high heating oil prices and supply issues this winter are thoroughly investigated by an independent authority.
	The market study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will provide an independent assessment of the off-grid market and establish what further action may be necessary to ensure it works properly.
	I look forward to seeing its conclusions in advance of next winter so the lessons from this winter can be learned and any necessary changes made.

Fuel Poverty

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many low-income households with children are classified as living in fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: In England in 2008, the most recent year for which fuel poverty statistics are available, around 394,000 households that contained somebody aged under 16 and had a household income in the lowest three income deciles were fuel poor.
	Most recent figures for Scotland, from the SHCS 2009, show that around 46,000 fuel poor households contained somebody under 16 and had an income in the lowest three deciles.
	Comparable figures are not available for Wales.

Government Departments: Carbon Emissions

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress his Department made towards the Government's objective to reduce emissions from central Government offices by 10 per cent. by May 2011.

Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 27 January 2011,  Official Report, column 436W.
	There is not much to report since last month, except that we continue to work hard to reduce our emissions and that current figures show that DECC has now saved over 120 tonnes since 14 May 2010.

Imports: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imported products; what consideration he has given to introducing a system of consumption-based emissions accounting alongside the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory; and if he will request the Committee on Climate Change to examine the matter.

Gregory Barker: We recognise that it is important to consider emissions associated with UK consumption as well as those from UK production. The UK has an important global influence in terms of embedded greenhouse gas emissions associated with imported products and DEFRA's Sustainable Consumption and Production programme has been working for several years to identify and help reduce the lifecycle carbon and other environmental impacts that are associated with UK consumption.
	We do not currently report our emissions regularly on a consumption basis. The DEFRA-funded research report "Development of an Embedded Carbon Emissions Indicator" developed an initial data and model framework to allow assessment of environmental impacts associated with UK trade flows. DEFRA has recently let a contract to update this indicator. While this research provides a satisfactory indication of the trend in carbon dioxide emissions relating to UK consumption, we do not consider the estimates are sufficiently reliable for use in monitoring performance or setting targets.
	I have not made a request, but I understand from the Committee on Climate Change's December 2010 report on the fourth carbon budget that it considers looking at embedded emissions.

Low Carbon Innovation Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the decision-making process is for the allocation of funding for the Low Carbon Innovation Fund announced in the comprehensive spending review.

Gregory Barker: DECC has been allocated over £200 million over four years to support the development of green energy technologies. Up to £60 million of that funding has been allocated to support the development of manufacturing infrastructure near port sites. In order to prioritise the remaining funding, I will be drawing on a wide range of evidence sources and views. I want to ensure that we focus our support on technologies and programmes where there are clear market failures and where the funding will have the greatest impact on meeting the Government's climate change and energy objectives, as well as, where appropriate, supporting the growth of the UK green economy. I expect to be able to provide more details in a few months' time.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of companies worldwide currently constructing reactor vessels for use in new build nuclear power stations; in which countries such companies are based; and how many reactor vessels were constructed in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold the requested information.
	It is the role of the Government to remove the barriers to investment in new nuclear power stations but for energy companies to make the investments and to build new nuclear power stations. It is these project developers who are best placed to ensure the availability of the items required to support their plans.
	I speak regularly with the energy companies and the reactor vendors and they do not believe the availability of reactor pressure vessels will cause a delay to new nuclear plant. Ultra heavy forgings for pressure vessels need to be ordered a long time in advance and vendors already have slots booked with existing suppliers to ensure that when they are building reactors around the world the necessary elements are available.

Open-cast Mining: Competition

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the level of competition in the open cast mining industry; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: No specific assessment of the open-cast mining industry has been made, but with, at present, 35 operating surface coal mines of varying size throughout Wales, Scotland and England being worked by 16 different operators, competition appears healthy. It should additionally be noted that the industry's licensing body, the Coal Authority, has a policy of seeking competing expressions of interest (among industry and on its website) in respect of any reserves over which it receives a licence application.

Power Stations: Security

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the policing of energy infrastructure establishments.

Charles Hendry: I met with the right hon. and noble Baroness Neville-Jones of Hutton Roof on 11 October 2010 to discuss progress made by our respective Departments to take forward work in developing a strategy for the policing of the civil nuclear estate and the critical national infrastructure. The status of this work is reflected in the DECC structural reform plan monthly implementation update on the Number 10 website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/#
	Beyond this piece of work, officials from DECC and the Home Office are in regular contact in order to keep the protection, including policing, of key energy sites under constant review.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme on energy prices in each of the five years from April 2010.

Gregory Barker: The introduction of feed-in tariffs (FITs) in April 2010 is expected to result in increased average retail electricity prices for both domestic and business customers as suppliers are expected to pass through their additional costs to customers. We assume that the impact on retail prices is the same across sectors, as costs are assumed to be spread evenly over total consumption. This results in the following estimated impact on retail prices for domestic and non-domestic customers for each of the five years from April 2010:
	
		
			   £/MWh (excl. VAT) 
			 2010-11 0.1 
			 2011-12 0.2 
			 2012-13 0.4 
			 2013-14 0.7 
			 2014-15 1.0 
		
	
	Impacts on retail prices are represented in 2009 prices, undiscounted. Figures have been rounded to the first decimal place. Further information can be found in 'Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills' at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf
	and
	'Impact Assessment of Feed-in Tariffs for Small-Scale, Low Carbon, Electricity Generation' at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the decision to cap the feed-in tariff scheme in 2010/11 was taken; and what consultation process was undertaken before that decision was made.

Gregory Barker: Information on the projected costs of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) was included in the impact assessment of the FITs scheme. This was published by the previous Administration in February 2010 following public consultation in summer 2009.
	Last year's spending review committed to improving the efficiency of FITs and to making savings of £40 million in 2014-15. This is equivalent to 10% of the £400 million(1) spend originally projected for that year. The final cost profile to 2014-15 will depend on the timing and outcome of the first review of FITs which has now started. Any changes to tariffs resulting from the review will be subject to consultation and parliamentary scrutiny as required by the Energy Act 2008.
	(1) It should be noted that (a) costs are presented in net terms, i.e. net of the value of electricity exported back to the grid; and (b) costs are additional-to-BAU, where BAU impacts are impacts that would occur in the absence of FITs (i.e. under the RO).

Renewables Obligation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on the Renewables Obligation Certificate banding review; and when he expects the proposed consultation as part of that review to commence.

Charles Hendry: We commenced a scheduled review of the support bands in the renewables obligation in October 2010. This will determine the levels of support for large-scale electricity generation from 2013-17. On 8 December 2010, I announced that we would accelerate the banding review by a year, and would consult on bands this summer, with the Government response by autumn. This will give generators and investors certainty on support levels a year earlier than previously planned.
	Work to assess the deployment potential and generation costs of renewable electricity technologies is ongoing, and we will publish the independent report on costs and deployment potential this spring, ahead of the summer consultation. We will shortly commence work to model different banding scenarios consistent with meeting our 2020 renewable energy target.

Smart Electricity Grid

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the development of a smart electricity grid.

Charles Hendry: We are developing policies to ensure that electricity system infrastructure can meet the key challenges for the future network and system balancing. These policy issues will form part of the Electricity Market Reform White Paper this spring. We are setting up with Ofgem a Smart Grid Forum to guide the actions that we are taking to address future challenges for electricity networks.
	DECC is also managing the implementation phases of the smart metering programme, which will see the rollout of smart meters to GB households and many businesses, paving the way for smart grids.
	Ofgem has allocated £500 million in funding to encourage innovation in distribution networks over the next five years. In addition, by the end of this financial year, DECC will have awarded £2.7 million to projects through its Smart Grids capital grants programme under the Low Carbon Investment Fund.

Smart Electricity Grid

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable his Department has set for the development of a smart electricity grid.

Charles Hendry: Development of a smart grid will be an incremental process. The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (ENSG), jointly chaired by DECC and Ofgem, set out a high level framework for smart grid development in its Route Map published in February 2010. In line with the timetable set out there, we expect the period up to 2015 to focus on the development of and trialling of smart technologies and approaches on the grid. This will interact with the smart meter roll out.
	Between 2015 and 2020, we would expect the first layer of a smart grid to be rolled out on a larger scale where a benefit has been shown through trialling. Roll out will need to continue post-2020, largely driven by the increased electrification of transport and heating and greater penetration of distributed generation.

Smart Electricity Grid

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits for smart utility networking of allocating spectrum on a lightly-regulated basis.

Charles Hendry: We have not made an assessment of the various options for communications platforms for smart grid as we believe the market will establish the communications system that will best serve the needs of the electricity system. The question of spectrum allocation is dependent on the choices made on communications platforms.

Solar Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 546W, on solar power, 
	(1)  what definition his Department uses of solar photovoltaic  (a) micro,  (b) small-scale,  (c) medium-scale and  (d) large-scale generation;
	(2)  for what reason his Department is using the 50 kW statutory micro-generation definition as the starting point for a review of large-scale 1 megawatt to 5 megawatt solar farms.

Gregory Barker: Section 41(4) of the Energy Act 2008 provides the statutory definition of "small-scale low-carbon generation" for the purposes of defining the scope of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. This also sets the specified maximum capacity for small-scale FITs at 5 megawatts. As my previous answer confirmed, 50 kilowatts is used in the statutory definition of "microgeneration" and therefore provides the starting point for determining what is large scale for the purposes of the FITs scheme.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme on the manufacture of solar power products in the UK.

Gregory Barker: The UK solar photovoltaic market has seen an increase in production capacity as a result of the introduction of the feed-in-tariff. Sharp reports increased production by 25% and Romag, operating in the north-east, are increasing production by 30%. More broadly, there are opportunities in the supply chain and the solar industry reports that jobs in the sector have increased significantly over the past year.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many megawatts of solar photovoltaic generating capacity have been installed since the launch of the feed-in tariff scheme on 1 April 2010.

Gregory Barker: Live information data obtained on 18 February from Ofgem's 'FITs Installations Statistical Report' show 60.5 MW of solar photovoltaics (22,722 installations) is currently registered for Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). This includes schemes installed prior to 1 April 2010.
	DECC produces a quarterly table of FITs capacity statistics, ET 5.6, available at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/electricitv/electricitv.aspx
	This table shows that, at the end of December 2010, 45 MW (17,200 installations) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity had been accredited on the FITs scheme. Of this, 32.9 MW (12,382 installations) was installed after 1 April 2010.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria he used in making the decision to extend the fast-track feed-in tariff review of solar farms to include all community projects greater than 50 kilowatts; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Under the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, tariff levels are based on technology and generating capacity. The reference of 50kW is simply the threshold used in the existing definition of microgeneration which is why it provides the starting point for defining the scope of the fast-track review.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value is of solar photovoltaic feed-in tariff payments made since 1 April 2010.

Gregory Barker: This information is not currently available in the form requested. However, Ofgem have published data from the quarterly levelisation process which shows a total of £2,686,712.55 paid for all technologies up to 30 September 2010. Levelisation data can be viewed at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Levelisation/Pages/Levelisation.aspx
	Levelisation data for 1 October to 31 December 2010 will be made available on Ofgem's website soon.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department published its 2010-11 projections of solar photovoltaics update under the feed-in tariff scheme; and in what format that publication took place.

Gregory Barker: Information on take-up was included in the Impact Assessment of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme published under the previous Administration in February 2010. However, details on level of projections of all eligible technologies under the scheme was sent to electricity suppliers at the start of the scheme. This information was also provided in response to specific requests and used in meetings with stakeholders.
	It confirms projections of 20,309 solar PV installations in 2010-11 with no large scale schemes in FITs during the first three years of FITs.
	A copy of the projections can be found in the House Library.

Syngas

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the commercial potential for using syngas for energy production in the UK.

Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change funded a study by E4Tech in 2009 of the potential for bioSNG in the UK. The study was published in April 2010 and is available on the website of the National Non-Food Crops at:
	http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/tools/potential-for-biosng-production-in-the-uk-nnfcc-10-008
	It concluded that in the long-term, bioSNG could be an economically attractive option for providing low carbon heat.

Water Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding mechanisms he plans to put in place to encourage investment in the marine renewables sector following the closure of the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.

Gregory Barker: The Department is currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million, to support the development of low carbon technologies, announced in the spending review-the needs of wave and tidal energy technologies are being considered as part of that process.
	A scheduled banding review of renewables obligation support for all technologies, including marine technologies, began last October. The review will consider whether any changes are needed to the current bands. We intend to consult on any changes to the bands this summer and to confirm the revised bands in the autumn, one year earlier than previously announced. Any changes in support levels will come into effect on 1 April 2013, (2014 for offshore wind) subject to state aids and parliamentary approval.

Water Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the £200 million allocated for the development of low-carbon technologies in the comprehensive spending review will be used to support marine renewables.

Charles Hendry: DECC is engaged in a detailed business planning process and in parallel we are assessing the innovation needs of a wide range of low carbon technologies, including offshore wind, marine, bio-energy, and how they can be addressed. Innovation funding decisions will be made in light of the outcome of that work, and these are expected to be in late spring.

Water Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage marine energy device manufacturers to locate in the UK.

Gregory Barker: We have moved to establish a new UK Marine Energy Programme, that will address the barriers affecting the UK marine energy sector's ability to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy devices at a commercial scale.
	Through the programme we will put in place a coherent programme of policies across Government, led by DECC, to enable the UK Marine Energy sector to move from prototype testing to commercial deployment.
	With the right framework of policies in place we can both develop our indigenous UK marine energy industry and attract investment and manufacturing into the UK.

Water Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the Marine Energy Action Plan published in March 2010.

Gregory Barker: We will take into account a wide evidence base in developing our support for the development of wave and tidal energy in the UK as part of our work under the UK Marine Energy Programme. The Marine Energy Action Plan will form one such source and its recommendations will feed into this.

Water Power: Finance

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to announce grant funding to the marine renewables sector in  (a) 2011 and  (b) 2012.

Gregory Barker: The Department is currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million, to support the development of low carbon technologies, announced in the spending review-the needs of wave and tidal energy technologies are being considered as part of that process.
	The Department will make announcements on its innovation funding for the coming spending review period once its ongoing detailed business planning concludes.

Water Power: Finance

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the remainder of the Low Carbon Innovation Fund announced in the comprehensive spending review will be allocated to financing the commercial development of marine renewables.

Gregory Barker: DECC is engaged in a detailed business planning process and in parallel we are assessing the innovation needs of a wide range of low carbon technologies, including offshore wind, marine, bio-energy, and how they can be addressed. Innovation funding decisions will be made in the light of the outcome of that work, and these are expected to be in late spring.

Wind Power: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much subsidy was provided to wind power under the Non Fossil Fuels Obligation scheme; and what his Department's policy was on the use of subsidy for wind power as a step towards commercial viability between 1987 and 1997.

Charles Hendry: Information on the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) is held by the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Limited (NFPA). The NFPA have provided the following information on the premium paid to wind between 1998-99 and 2000-01:
	
		
			   Premium paid (£ million) 
			 1998-99 35.1 
			 1999-2000 7.3 
			 9 months to December 2001 6.3 
		
	
	Data on the subsidy paid prior to 1998-99 are not readily available.
	The first commercial wind farm in the UK started generating electricity in 1991, supported by the non-fossil fuel obligation. It is evident that wind power was not commercially viable without subsidy during the period 1987-97, given that it was a relatively new technology, hence the introduction of the NFFO.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what applications for consent have been made for offshore wind developments in the last two years; what objections have been made to those applications; who made such objections; and on what grounds such objections were made.

Charles Hendry: Two applications for consent for proposed offshore wind farm developments have been submitted in the last two years-for the Dudgeon (560 MW, developer Dudgeon Offshore Wind Ltd.) and Westermost Rough (245 MW, DONG Westermost Rough Ltd.) projects.
	There have been seven objections to Westermost Rough and eight to Dudgeon. These objections have been received from members of the public, organisations representing fishermen, the Ministry of Defence, National Air Traffic Services, the Norfolk Coast Partnership and the RSPB. The objections have been made on the grounds of impacts on birds, fish, fishing activity, military radar, civil aviation services and marine navigation.

World War II: Mining

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to acknowledge the contribution made by miners during the Second World War.

Charles Hendry: In 2007 the Bevin Boys Veterans Badge was introduced to recognise those who were in the unique position to have either been selected or volunteered as part of the Bevin Boys scheme.
	Although coal miners who were already employed in the pits made a similar contribution to the war effort they were one of many reserved occupations such as railway and dock workers, farmers, agricultural workers, schoolteachers and doctors. It would not be right to single out one occupation for recognition when many millions of men and women who were employed in other reserved occupations also played a major role in the wartime effort.

EDUCATION

Academies

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on  (a) first and  (b) primary schools becoming academies.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 31 January 2011
	All primary and first schools which are rated outstanding, or which are good with outstanding features, are eligible to convert to academy status. In addition, any school can apply with other schools as part of a formal partnership, providing at least one is rated outstanding or good with outstanding features, or they join an existing academy trust with a proven track record of school improvement.

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools that have opted to convert to Academy status did so without prior consultation with  (a) pupils,  (b) parents and  (c) staff since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	Schools applying to convert to Academy Status have a statutory requirement to consult interested parties (for example, students, parents, and the local community). Schools are free to choose how they wish to do this. The consultation process must legally be completed before the Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State is signed. Prior to the Funding Agreement being signed, the school's governing body needs to confirm that it has consulted interested parties, the date on which the consultation was carried out, and that the views obtained were considered in the decision to convert to an academy.
	The current employer of school staff (either the local authority or governing body depending on the type of school) is required to conduct a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) consultation with all teaching and support staff and their unions as part of the staff transfer process.

Academies: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether any Academy schools have had their revenue funding reduced in lieu of a sponsor's contribution;
	(2)  which Academy schools have had their revenue funding reduced in lieu of a sponsor's contribution; and by how much that funding has been reduced in each case.

Nick Gibb: holding answers 24 and 31 January 2011
	The first academy projects required sponsors to make a capital contribution towards the cost of constructing academy buildings. In a small number of cases where a sponsor was unable to meet its capital sponsorship commitment, the Department agreed to make a payment to the contractor and then recover the amount by reducing the academy's general annual grant. The Department's expectation is that the sponsor should then make contributions to the academies to make good these deductions. There are currently eight academies whose revenue funding is being reduced in lieu of a sponsor's contribution. The following table shows each academy, along with the amount of funding that has been reduced.
	
		
			  Name of academy  Amount of funding reduced (£ million) 
			 Lambeth 1.34 
			 Northampton 1.35 
			 Paddington 0.43 
			 Manchester 1.66 
			 Macmillan 0.10 
			 The City Academy (Bristol) 0.17 
			 Westminster 1.5 
			 Bede 0.30

Adoption: Peterborough City Council

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were  (a) available for permanent adoption and  (b) adopted in the Peterborough city council local authority area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 27 January 2011
	The number of children who were  (a) available for permanent adoption and  (b) adopted in the Peterborough city council local authority area, in each year since 1999, is shown in the following table. Information is not available for 1997 and 1998 as Peterborough city council first provided data on looked after children in 1999 following a local authority reorganisation. "Available for permanent adoption" has been defined as children who were "placed for adoption at 31 March".
	
		
			  Children who were looked after by Peterborough city council who were placed for adoption at 31 March or who were adopted during the year( 1,)( )( 2) : Years ending 31 March 1999 to 2010: Coverage: England 
			  Number 
			   Children placed for adoption at 31 March  Children adopted during the year 
			   England  Peterborough  England  Peterborough 
			 1999 3,000 25 2,200 30 
			 2000 3,600 15 2,700 20 
			 2001 4,000 30 3,100 20 
			 2002 4,200 40 3,400 25 
			 2003 3,700 25 3,500 25 
			 2004 3,600 15 3,800 20 
			 2005 3,400 25 3,800 10 
			 2006 3,000 10 3,700 20 
			 2007 2,700 20 3,300 15 
			 2008 2,900 30 3,200 25 
			 2009 2,700 20 3,300 40 
			 2010 2,300 25 3,200 25 
			 (1) Numbers at national level have been rounded to the nearest 100. At local authority level, numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. (2) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials.  Source: SSDA 903

Children: Abuse

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to tackle child exploitation  (a) domestically and  (b) internationally.

Tim Loughton: To tackle child sexual exploitation effectively there must be a collaborative approach involving Ministers from a range of Government Departments as well as local authority children's services, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, and organisations such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), Barnardo's and others, including voluntary organisations around the country.
	Within Government, and working with national and local partners, I am leading our urgent consideration of what further action needs to be taken to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation. This will build on existing guidance and our developing understanding of this appalling abuse including through local agencies' work around the country on effective prevention strategies, identifying those at risk of sexual exploitation, supporting victims, and taking robust action against perpetrators.
	The UK is committed to working with others, including our European partners, to prevent human trafficking. The UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse on 5 May 2008 and aims to ratify it as soon as possible. The UK also opted in to the proposed Directive on Child Sexual Exploitation and abuse on 28 June 2010.

Children: Protection

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what impact indicators for child protection his Department is using as part of its 2011-2015 Business Plan.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 3 February 2011
	The Business Plan for the Department for Education was published on 8 November 2010. This contained in draft a set of input and impact indicators and a revised set will be included when the finalised Business Plan is published in April. While the Business Plan did not include any specific impact indicators on child protection, the plan made clear the importance the Department places on improving arrangements for protecting children from harm, and set out a commitment to publish Professor Eileen Munro's child protection review and implement reforms. Ministers asked Professor Munro to undertake this review of child protection in England in June 2010, and specifically to consider whether there are better ways of using performance data to improve social work practice. Professor Munro published her interim report on 1 February 2011. She argued that process-based targets and performance indicators have skewed local priorities to focus on specific aspects of process, rather than the quality of practice. Professor Munro will make final recommendations to Government in April 2011.

Class Sizes

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools have class sizes of over 30 pupils in each local authority area.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is in the table.
	The number of classes by size has been published at local authority level as part of the Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: January 2010 Statistical First Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/index.shtml
	in tables 14a and 14c. For England, the percentage of classes in maintained primary schools with 31 or more pupils is 9.4%. For state-funded secondary schools, this figure is 6.5%. For Key Stage 1 classes in maintained primary schools, 1.8% of those classes have 31 or more pupils.
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1,2)  schools: percentage of schools with one or more classes of 31 or more pupils( 3) , as at January 2010 
			  By local authority area and government office region in England 
			   Maintained Primary( 1)  State-funded Secondary( 1,2) 
			   Total number of schools  Of which, n umber of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils  % of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils  Total number of schools  Of which , n umber of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils  % of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils 
			  England 16,971 6,621 39.0 3,333 2,428 72.8 
			
			  North East 887 354 39.9 198 134 67.7 
			 Darlington 29 16 55.2 7 7 100.0 
			 Durham 228 84 36.8 36 27 75.0 
			 Gateshead 69 20 29.0 11 8 72.7 
			 Hartlepool 30 16 53.3 5 3 60.0 
			 Middlesbrough 42 26 61.9 8 4 50.0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 72 32 44.4 14 12 85.7 
			 North Tyneside 56 26 46.4 15 12 80.0 
			 Northumberland 125 33 26.4 52 30 57.7 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 45 20 44.4 11 6 54.5 
			 South Tyneside 49 23 46.9 9 5 55.6 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 60 37 61.7 13 7 53.8 
			 Sunderland 82 21 25.6 17 13 76.5 
			
			  North West 2,483 1,052 42.4 456 334 73.2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 55 22 40.0 10 4 40.0 
			 Blackpool 29 15 51.7 8 6 75.0 
			 Bolton 94 48 51.1 17 11 64.7 
			 Bury 63 28 44.4 14 10 71.4 
			 Cheshire East 124 55 44.4 20 17 85.0 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 129 57 44.2 20 15 75.0 
			 Cumbria 274 58 21.2 37 29 78.4 
			 Halton 52 19 36.5 8 4 50.0 
			 Knowsley 53 27 50.9 7 4 57.1 
			 Lancashire 484 198 40.9 82 64 78.0 
			 Liverpool 131 39 29.8 31 21 67.7 
			 Manchester 130 85 65.4 24 19 79.2 
			 Oldham 89 41 46.1 15 10 66.7 
			 Rochdale 69 33 47.8 14 11 78.6 
			 Salford 80 33 41.3 15 7 46.7 
			 Sefton 76 38 50.0 21 14 66.7 
			 St Helens 54 25 46.3 10 8 80.0 
			 Stockport 88 49 55.7 14 14 100.0 
			 Tameside 74 24 32.4 16 14 87.5 
			 Trafford 69 38 55.1 18 11 61.1 
			 Warrington 70 37 52.9 12 11 91.7 
			 Wigan 104 42 40.4 20 17 85.0 
			 Wirral 92 41 44.6 23 13 56.5 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 1,834 884 48.2 316 257 81.3 
			 Barnsley 81 48 59.3 13 12 92.3 
			 Bradford 155 97 62.6 29 24 82.8 
			 Calderdale 84 41 48.8 14 12 85.7 
			 Doncaster 103 43 41.7 17 15 88.2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 126 58 46.0 18 17 94.4 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 71 43 60.6 14 10 71.4 
			 Kirklees 150 59 39.3 31 22 71.0 
			 Leeds 219 123 56.2 38 31 81.6 
			 North East Lincolnshire 48 19 39.6 11 9 81.8 
			 North Lincolnshire 66 37 56.1 13 12 92.3 
			 North Yorkshire 323 92 28.5 47 32 68.1 
			 Rotherham 99 49 49.5 16 13 81.3 
			 Sheffield 133 86 64.7 27 24 88.9 
			 Wakefield 122 63 51.6 18 17 94.4 
			 York 54 26 48.1 10 7 70.0 
			
			  East Midlands 1,650 695 42.1 296 218 73.6 
			 Derby 76 43 56.6 14 10 71.4 
			 Derbyshire 350 154 44.0 47 35 74.5 
			 Leicester 81 28 34.6 18 12 66.7 
			 Leicestershire 225 98 43.6 54 38 70.4 
			 Lincolnshire 277 110 39.7 60 41 68.3 
			 Northamptonshire 260 78 30.0 41 30 73.2 
			 Nottingham 79 45 57.0 14 9 64.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 285 132 46.3 45 40 88.9 
			 Rutland 17 7 41.2 3 3 100.0 
			
			  West Midlands 1,793 705 39.3 401 270 67.3 
			 Birmingham 299 103 34.4 75 39 52.0 
			 Coventry 85 28 32.9 19 14 73.7 
			 Dudley 78 35 44.9 21 14 66.7 
			 Herefordshire 81 22 27.2 15 13 86.7 
			 Sandwell 94 39 41.5 18 12 66.7 
			 Shropshire 133 56 42.1 22 18 81.8 
			 Solihull 64 26 40.6 14 11 78.6 
			 Staffordshire 295 122 41.4 68 54 79.4 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 71 51 71.8 17 13 76.5 
			 Telford and Wrekin 55 29 52.7 14 8 57.1 
			 Walsall 86 30 34.9 19 12 63.2 
			 Warwickshire 194 91 46.9 36 27 75.0 
			 Wolverhampton 76 29 38.2 18 10 55.6 
			 Worcestershire 182 44 24.2 45 25 55.6 
			
			  East of England 2,020 648 32.1 420 307 73.1 
			 Bedford 51 13 25.5 22 14 63.6 
			 Central Bedfordshire 96 17 17.7 33 18 54.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 201 98 48.8 30 28 93.3 
			 Essex 468 171 36.5 78 63 80.8 
			 Hertfordshire 396 127 32.1 82 67 81.7 
			 Luton 51 11 21.6 12 7 58.3 
			 Norfolk 365 107 29.3 52 43 82.7 
			 Peterborough 57 18 31.6 11 8 72.7 
			 Southend-on-Sea 37 13 35.1 12 8 66.7 
			 Suffolk 255 58 22.7 78 42 53.8 
			 Thurrock 43 15 34.9 10 9 90.0 
			
			  London 1,786 532 29.8 428 256 59.8 
			
			  Inner London 691 126 18.2 151 58 38.4 
			 Camden 41 6 14.6 9 2 22.2 
			 City of London 1 0 0.0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hackney 53 9 17.0 12 4 33.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 34 8 23.5 9 4 44.4 
			 Haringey 63 14 22.2 12 6 50.0 
			 Islington 44 6 13.6 10 4 40.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 26 3 11.5 5 2 40.0 
			 Lambeth 61 13 21.3 13 7 53.8 
			 Lewisham 67 7 10.4 14 4 28.6 
			 Newham 66 16 24.2 15 8 53.3 
			 Southwark 70 9 12.9 16 3 18.8 
			 Tower Hamlets 69 17 24.6 15 6 40.0 
			 Wandsworth 56 13 23.2 11 5 45.5 
			 Westminster 40 5 12.5 10 3 30.0 
			
			  Outer London 1,095 406 37.1 277 198 71.5 
			 Barking and Dagenham 47 24 51.1 9 7 77.8 
			 Barnet 86 23 26.7 21 14 66.7 
			 Bexley 57 27 47.4 16 14 87.5 
			 Brent 59 19 32.2 15 9 60.0 
			 Bromley 74 42 56.8 17 15 88.2 
			 Croydon 85 32 37.6 22 16 72.7 
			 Ealing 65 26 40.0 13 10 76.9 
			 Enfield 65 11 16.9 18 13 72.2 
			 Greenwich 64 12 18.8 13 7 53.8 
			 Harrow 50 10 20.0 10 6 60.0 
			 Havering 59 27 45.8 18 10 55.6 
			 Hillingdon 65 28 43.1 18 10 55.6 
			 Hounslow 56 25 44.6 14 14 100.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 34 4 11.8 10 9 90.0 
			 Merton 43 15 34.9 8 6 75.0 
			 Redbridge 52 34 65.4 17 12 70.6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 41 15 36.6 8 6 75.0 
			 Sutton 41 14 34.1 14 11 78.6 
			 Waltham Forest 52 18 34.6 16 9 56.3 
			
			  South East 2,629 983 37.4 493 393 79.7 
			 Bracknell Forest 30 13 43.3 6 6 100.0 
			 Brighton and Hove 54 27 50.0 9 8 88.9 
			 Buckinghamshire 181 61 33.7 34 29 85.3 
			 East Sussex 155 75 48.4 27 21 77.8 
			 Hampshire 428 169 39.5 71 60 84.5 
			 Isle of Wight 46 9 19.6 19 9 47.4 
			 Kent 449 175 39.0 100 72 72.0 
			 Medway 85 23 27.1 18 9 50.0 
			 Milton Keynes 89 30 33.7 12 12 100.0 
			 Oxfordshire 232 85 36.6 34 29 85.3 
			 Portsmouth 53 14 26.4 10 7 70.0 
			 Reading 37 16 43.2 7 5 71.4 
			 Slough 27 14 51.9 11 8 72.7 
			 Southampton 61 16 26.2 12 8 66.7 
			 Surrey 308 110 35.7 53 48 90.6 
			 West Berkshire 66 22 33.3 10 9 90.0 
			 West Sussex 234 85 36.3 38 36 94.7 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 45 18 40.0 13 9 69.2 
			 Wokingham 49 21 42.9 9 8 88.9 
			
			  South West 1,889 768 40.7 325 259 79.7 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 62 22 35.5 13 11 84.6 
			 Bournemouth 26 9 34.6 10 8 80.0 
			 Bristol, City of 106 41 38.7 21 13 61.9 
			 Cornwall 237 89 37.6 31 29 93.5 
			 Devon 315 120 38.1 37 30 81.1 
			 Dorset 134 44 32.8 34 27 79.4 
			 Gloucestershire 245 104 42.4 41 31 75.6 
			 Isles of Scilly 1 0 0.0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 North Somerset 63 26 41.3 10 8 80.0 
			 Plymouth 68 34 50.0 16 13 81.3 
			 Poole 27 13 48.1 9 5 55.6 
			 Somerset 220 102 46.4 39 30 76.9 
			 South Gloucestershire 93 36 38.7 16 12 75.0 
			 Swindon 61 27 44.3 11 10 90.9 
			 Torbay 31 15 48.4 8 5 62.5 
			 Wiltshire 200 86 43.0 29 27 93.1 
			 n/a = Not applicable. No schools of this type. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.  Source: School Census

Classroom Assistants: Finance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce the allocation of the  (a) workforce modernisation and  (b) higher level teaching assistant grant for local authorities.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 11 February 2011
	The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) wrote to directors of children's services on 30 June to notify them that:
	the workforce modernisation and developments grants would not be paid beyond November 2010 and
	the support staff training and qualification grant (which included funding for the training of higher level teaching assistants) would not be paid during 2010-11.
	This is consistent with the White Paper we published in November 2010 "The Importance of Teaching" which stated that head teachers were best placed to decide how to develop and deploy school support staff.

College of Social Work: Social Care Institute for Excellence

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will investigate the use of funds allocated by his Department to the Social Care Institute for Excellence and the Interim Board of the College of Social Work for the establishment of the College of Social Work.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 7 February 2011
	Following the publication of the Social Work Task Force Report, the Department for Education committed to match £2.5 million of funding made available by the Department of Health to support the establishment of an independent, national college of social work. This Department's funds have not yet been allocated and officials are in discussions regarding the appropriate time that further funds will need to be made available to meet the emerging business development plan. Both Departments have recently investigated concerns raised with us in relation to the college's use of public funds and are reassured that there is no actual or proposed misuse.

College of Social Work: Social Care Institute for Excellence

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what role he plans the Social Care Institute for Excellence to have in the operation of the College of Social Work.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 7 February 2011
	The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has been asked to facilitate the establishment of the College of Social Work, providing administrative support and expertise in a developmental phase of two years. Neither Government nor SCIE seek to influence the form or function of the emerging college. SCIE will have no role in the governance of the college that emerges.

College of Social Work: UNISON

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions his Department had with other organisations before awarding Unison a contract for trade union services to the College of Social Work.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not seek to influence any partnership agreements the college might establish once it emerges from the current development stage and has not entered into any agreements or contracts with Unison or any other organisation on membership or trade union services.
	The establishment process for the college was guided from January to September 2010 by a development group with representation from across the social work sector, including frontline practitioners, employer representatives, regulators, educators, work force organisations and the British Association of Social Workers, Unison and Aspect. Since September interim co-chairs and an interim board have been appointed who are taking forward this work and have maintained links with all parties.

Curriculum

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects his Department's review of the national curriculum to be completed.

Nick Gibb: The review of the national curriculum for England is being conducted in two phases. We intend to publish new programmes of study for English, mathematics, science and physical education in autumn 2012, with first teaching in maintained schools from September 2013. New programmes of study for all other subjects that are to form part of the new national curriculum will be published by September 2013, with teaching in maintained schools from September 2014.
	Further details are in the remit for the review, a copy of which is in the House Libraries.

Departmental Allowances

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how long on average he spends managing expenses and allowances claims; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: My ministerial colleagues and I follow the Department's policy, rules and guidance on expenses and allowances in the course of our official duties. However, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Photographs

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on photography since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: Since May 2010, the Department has spent £7,306.48 on photography.

Departmental Press Releases

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions his Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The Department has not provided embargoed briefings during the requested period.

Departmental Redundancy

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff in his Department have been made redundant since May 2010; and how much it has spent on redundancy costs.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 25 January 2011
	The Department has made no compulsory redundancies since May 2010. The Department has, however, reduced its headcount through voluntary early release and since May 2010 there have been 150 approved staff releases at a cost of £8.4 million.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010.

Tim Loughton: In the period 6 May 2010 to 26 January 2011 the Department for Education has revoked a number of regulatory statutory instruments or significant parts of statutory instruments. These are detailed in the following table. However, as indicated by the third column of the table, in some cases the content of the revoked statutory instrument has been largely replaced.
	
		
			  Regulations revoked  Revoking instrument  Comments 
			 The Children (Leaving Care) (England) Regulations 2001 The Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010 Revoked but replaced. Coming into force 1 April 2011. 
			 The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended) The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 Revoked but replaced. 
			 The Education (Prescribed Public Examinations) Regulations 1989 The Education (Prescribed Public Examinations) (England) Regulations 2010 Revoked so far as they applied to maintained schools in England, but replaced. 
			 The National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001 The Care Standards Act 2000 (Registration) (England) Regulations 2010 Revoked but replaced. 
			 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Appropriate Officer and Schedule 7 Prescribed Persons) Regulations 2010 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Appropriate Officer and Schedule 7 Prescribed Persons) (Revocation) Regulations 2010  
			 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Supervisory Authorities and Devolution Alignment) Order 2010 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Supervisory Authorities and Devolution Alignment) (Amendment) Order 2010 The devolution alignment aspect of the Order was revoked. 
			 The Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) Order 2009 The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Order 2010 Revoked but replaced. 
			 The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2010  
			 The School Information (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 The School Information (England) (Amendment) (Revocation) Regulations 2010  
			 The School Governance(Transition from an Interim Executive Board) (England) Regulations 2004 The School Governance (Transition from an Interim Executive Board) (England) Regulations 2010 Revoked but replaced. 
			 The Children's Trust Board (Children and Young People's Plan) (England) Regulations 2010 The Children's Trust Board (Children and Young People's Plan) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2010  
			 The Education (Local Authority Performance Targets) (England) Regulations 2005 (along with four sets of Regulations which amended the 2005 Regulations) The Education (Local Authority and School Performance Targets) (Revocation and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010 Coming into force 30 January 2011. 
			 Regulations 3 and 4 of the Education (School Attendance Targets) (England) Regulations 2007 The Education (School Attendance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010  
			 The Education (Provision of Information by Independent Schools) (England) Regulations2003 (along with a set of Regulations which amended the 2003 Regulations) The Education (Independent Educational Provision in England) (Provision of Information) Regulations 2010 Revoked but replaced.

Departmental Senior Civil Servants

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the  (a) names and  (b) salaries are of each senior civil servant who has (i) joined, (ii) moved posts within and (iii) left his Department since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 27 January 2011
	The information for the Department is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Appointments (includes new appointees and promotions into senior civil service) 
			  Name( 1)  (at director level and above only)  Gross basic salary 
			 Deputy director £70,000-£74,999 
			  £65,000-£69,999 
			  £60,000-£64,999 
			   
			 Simon Parkes £135,000-£139,999 
		
	
	
		
			  Departures (including terminations, transfers to other Government Departments, outward secondments and loans out and others who can return to the Department, e.g. on career break) 
			  Name( 1)  (at director level and above only)  Gross basic salary 
			 Deputy director £70,000-£74,999 
			  £80,000-£84,999 
			  £60,000-£64,999 
			  £90,000-£94,999 
			  £75,000-£79,999 
			  £65,000-£69,999 
			   
			 Michael Hearty £90,000-£94,999 
			 Ian Taylor £125,00-£129,999 
			 (1) Senior civil service naming and salary protocols are based on the latest published Transparency Agenda exercise criteria.

Departmental Travel

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been spent on travel by officials of his Department since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The total amount spent on staff travel since May 2010 is £2,171,487 and includes all travel costs incurred between May 2010 and January 2011.
	The corresponding staff travel figure for May 2009 to January 2010 is £4,023,795.

Departmental Written Questions

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 292-3W, on social services: children, what audit work Ofsted performed after 23 November 2010 to provide an answer to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley; how many staff at each grade were involved; how much staff time the audit took; and what errors were identified in the data originally prepared for the answer.

Tim Loughton: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 31 January 2011:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	An explanation of the context to the relevant data gathering may be helpful. Prior to receipt of PQ 025834, Ofsted was already carrying out an audit of all our serious childcare incident data dating back to 1 April 2007, The data requested in PQ 025634 covered very similar ground to this audit review, staff worked on the two processes together, and answering the PQ accurately was reliant on the audit being completed. As a result the work on PQ 025634 cannot be separated entirely from the wider ongoing audit. However, we have estimated the amount of time dedicated specifically to the PQ after 23 November 2010.
	After 23 November 2010, Ofsted continued to audit data in respect of PQ 025634 dating back to April 2007, These data are stored in different formats and locations, and officials carefully and systematically cross-examined them to ensure there were no errors or duplication. This took one member of staff at Band A (grade 7) half a day, six staff at B1 (Senior Executive Officer) grade a total of eight and a half days and one member of staff at B2 (Higher Executive Officer) grade one day. The total staff time spent is therefore eight staff for a total of ten days.
	Four errors were identified and corrected during the audit process. They all related to inaccurate recording or calculation of the ages of children.
	I hope this is helpful and clarifies the work we have undertaken in this area. A copy of this reply has been sent to Tim Loughton MP, Minister for Children and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department is making in developing an alternative to the education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: We are currently working with school, college and training organisation representatives and others, including the Sutton Trust, to develop the arrangements for a package of financial support which is more closely targeted on those young people who face the greatest financial barriers to participation.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has made an assessment of the cost to the public purse of terminating the education maintenance allowance (EMA), including  (a) any penalty clause for the termination of the EMA element of his Department's Learning Support Services contract with Capita and  (b) any staff costs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We are working with the Young People's Learning Agency, which administers the education maintenance allowance scheme on behalf of the Department for Education, to assess any costs that may arise from the reduction in value of Capita's contract. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has responded separately to the hon. Member on the question regarding penalty payments and staff costs, and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 11 February 2011:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ38934.
	The contract with Capita currently supports a number of learner support schemes in addition to Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) so the decision to end EMAs will not trigger termination of the contract and there will therefore be no consequent liability to pay a penalty.
	This is however a significant change to the scale of the contract with Capita and we have begun commercial discussions with Capita as to the costs involved in reducing the scale of their operation. These costs are likely to involve staff redundancies in Capita as a result of the end of EMA. These negotiations will also cover the need for on-going delivery of the remaining schemes.
	As you will appreciate, I cannot anticipate the outcome of these commercial negotiations, which are likely to take several months to complete.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding has been allocated under each budget heading under his Department's Learner Support Services contract with Capita between 2009 and 2013; and what proportion of the contract is allocated to delivering education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Blaydon with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 11 February 2011:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ38935 that asked:
	"How much funding has been allocated under each budget heading under his Department's Learner Support Services contract with Capita between 2009 and 2013; and what proportion of the contract is allocated to delivering education maintenance allowance."
	The budgets for the administration of each scheme under the Learner Support contract with Capita for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are as follows;
	
		
			  £ 
			  Learner support schemes  2009-10 Budget  2010-11 Budget 
			 EMA 35,000,000 25,000,000 
			 Adult Learning Grant 4,500,000 3,300,000 
			 Care to Learn 4,275,000 1,500,000 
			 Dance and Drama Awards 100,000 200,000 
			 Sixth Form College Childcare 335,000 100,000 
			 Residential Support Scheme 335,000 120,000 
			 Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work 4,000,000 1,120,500 
			 Professional and Career Development Loans n/a 1,000,000 
		
	
	There are differing levels of administrative complexity across the schemes and this is reflected in the budget required for each scheme. 77.3% of the budget for the contract is attributed to EMA in 2010-11.
	The amounts budgeted for 2011-12 (and 2012-13) are still to be determined and are dependent on the shape and size of the service for these periods.

Education: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on the levels of  (a) dedicated schools grant,  (b) pupil premium funding and  (c) funding for nursery provision in Worcestershire in 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: Worcestershire's Dedicated Schools Grant is worth £297.478 million in 2010-11, based on a per pupil amount of £4,027.71.
	The pupil premium will be introduced from April 2011 and will be worth:
	£430 for each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM);
	£430 for each looked after child; and
	£200 for each service child.
	No funding is available for the pupil premium in 2010-11. The January 2010 pupil count allows an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made. Based on the January pupil count, Worcestershire would receive an estimated pupil premium of £3.8 million. However, the pupil premium for 2011-12 could be higher or lower depending on actual pupil numbers in January 2011.
	Worcestershire have budgeted to spend £14 million on children on early years provision in 2010-11, as recorded on their 2010-11 Section 251 Budget Statement.

English Baccalaureate

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the merits of increasing the range of subjects that would satisfy the humanities requirement of the English Baccalaureate to include religious studies alongside history and geography.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 February 2011
	For the purposes of the 2010 performance tables the humanities element of the English Baccalaureate measure was either history or geography. We have not included religious education (RE) as fulfilling the humanity requirement of the English Baccalaureate because it is already a compulsory subject. One of the intentions of the English Baccalaureate is to encourage wider take up of geography and history in addition to, rather than instead of, compulsory RE.
	However we recognise, as many schools do, the benefits that religious education can bring to pupils. This is why the teaching of RE remains compulsory throughout a pupil's schooling. Success in all subjects studied at GCSE will also continue to be recognised by other performance table measures, as it has in the past. We are open to arguments about how we can further improve the measures in the performance tables and will review the precise definition of the English Baccalaureate for the 2011 Tables.

Free Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which applications to become free schools have been  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful.

Nick Gibb: As at 29 January 2011, eight proposals to open a Free School have been given approval to pre-opening stage, the final stage in the approval process. These schools are as follows:
	ARK Conway, Hammersmith and Fulham
	Discovery New School, West Sussex
	Etz Chaim, Barnet
	The Free School, Norwich
	l-Foundation, Leicester City
	St Luke's Church of England Primary School, Camden
	Stour Valley Community School in Suffolk
	Woodpecker Hall, Enfield
	A further 27 proposals have been given approval to proceed to the preceding business case and plan stage and their full plans will be considered in due course.
	60 proposals have so far been unsuccessful.

Free Schools

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much he plans to allocate to each free school to develop projects.

Nick Gibb: Support for all free school projects is considered and approved on a case by case basis, based on the needs of each individual project.

Free Schools

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many proposals for free schools have been made in the Black Country.

Nick Gibb: As at 9 February 2011, we have received three proposals from groups and individuals within the four Black Country local authorities (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton).

Further Education: Absenteeism

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of students in further education were persistent absentees in each year since 2004.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 February 2011
	 Information on pupils who were persistent absentees is not collected for further education establishments. The Department collects information on pupil absence for pupils aged 5 to 15 at the start of the school year from maintained primary, secondary, all special schools, city technology colleges and academies.
	Information on absence can be found in Statistical First Release 07/2010 "Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2008/09" at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000918/index.shtml

GCSE

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average number of GCSE entries was per student reaching the end of school year 11 in maintained schools in academic year  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: In 1997, the average number of GCSE entries among pupils in maintained schools aged 15 at the start of the academic year was 8.33.
	In 2010, the average number of GCSE entries among pupils in maintained schools at the end of key stage 4 was 7.69.
	Short courses have been counted as half a GCSE entry and double courses as two entries.
	Prior to 2005, statistics were based on pupils aged 15. In 2005, statistics based on pupils reaching the end of key stage 4 were introduced, which aimed to take better account of the attainment of pupils learning at different rates. Since 2009, all figures have been based exclusively on pupils reaching the end of key stage 4.
	 Source:
	School and College Performance Tables.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which were the 100 lowest performing schools on the basis of proportion of students gaining five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics in the latest period for which figures are available; and in which local authority area each such school is located.

Nick Gibb: The following table shows the lowest performing schools, based on the percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C (or equivalent) including English and Mathematics GCSEs, by local authority. The table lists only those open maintained mainstream schools (including city technology colleges and academies, but excluding hospital schools and pupil referral units) with results published in the 2010 School and College Performance Tables with more than 10 pupils on roll at the end of Key Stage 4.
	
		
			  Local authority  School  Percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*  to C (or equivalent) including English and Mathematics GCSEs 
			  North East   
			 Middlesbrough Unity City Academy 28 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne All Saints College 21 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Excelsior Academy 25 
			 Northumberland Bedlingtonshire Community High School 30 
			 Northumberland Northumberland CofE Academy 28 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Gillbrook College 23 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Redcar Community College A Specialist Visual and Performing Arts Centre 28 
			 Sunderland Academy 360 21 
			 Sunderland Red House Academy 30 
			
			  North West   
			 Blackburn with Darwen Blakewater College 26 
			 Blackpool Beacon Hill High School Business and Enterprise College 28 
			 Bury Radcliffe Riverside School 29 
			 Cumbria Beacon Hill Community School 28 
			 Knowsley Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning (Community) 30 
			 Lancashire Fulwood Academy 29 
			 Lancashire Shuttleworth College 23 
			 Lancashire Skerton Community High School 29 
			 Liverpool Parklands High School 23 
			 Liverpool Shorefields School 28 
			 Manchester Manchester Creative and Media Academy for Boys 28 
			 Manchester Manchester Enterprise Academy 27 
			 St Helens Newton-le-Willows Community High School 30 
			 Wigan PEMBEC High School 23 
			 Wirral Rock Ferry High School 29 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 Barnsley Carlton Community College 27 
			 Barnsley Priory School and Sports College 30 
			 Barnsley The Dearne High-A Specialist Humanities College 30 
			 Bradford Aire Valley School 27 
			 Bradford Belle Vue Boys' School 29 
			 Bradford Bradford Academy 24 
			 Bradford Dixons Allerton Academy 27 
			 Calderdale Park Lane Learning Trust 23 
			 Calderdale St Catherine's Catholic High School 30 
			 Doncaster De Warenne Academy 30 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of David Lister School 26 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of Endeavour High School 30 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of Sir Henry Cooper School 21 
			 Leeds Primrose High School 25 
			 Leeds South Leeds Academy 29 
			 Leeds Swallow Hill Community College 24 
			 Sheffield Abbeydale Grange School 23 
			 Sheffield Chaucer Business and Enterprise College 30 
			 Sheffield Parkwood Academy 28 
			
			  East Midlands   
			 Derby Sinfin Community School 26 
			 Leicester New College Leicester 28 
			 Leicester Riverside Business and Enterprise College 30 
			 Lincolnshire Gleed Boys' School 27 
			 Lincolnshire Haven High Technology College 28 
			 Lincolnshire Saint Bede's Catholic Science College 20 
			 Lincolnshire The Mablethorpe Tennyson High 28 
			 Northamptonshire Weston Favell School 27 
			 Nottingham Hadden Park High School 27 
			 Nottingham Nottingham University Samworth Academy 21 
			 Nottinghamshire The Queen Elizabeth's (1561) Endowed School 30 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 Coventry Barr's Hill School and Community College 29 
			 Sandwell St Michael's CofE High School 30 
			 Solihull The Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School 30 
			 Staffordshire Hagley Park Sports College 22 
			 Stoke-on-Trent James Brindley High School 30 
			 Walsall Blue Coat Church of England Comprehensive School A Performing Arts Specialist College 30 
			 Walsall Frank F Harrison Engineering College 24 
			 Walsall Sneyd Community School 27 
			 Worcestershire Tudor Grange Academy Worcester 28 
			
			  East of England   
			 Cambridgeshire Coleridge Community College 29 
			 Cambridgeshire Thomas Clarkson Community College 27 
			 Bedfordshire, Central All Saints Academy Dunstable 29 
			 Essex Furtherwick Park School 29 
			 Essex St Peter's Church of England and Specialist Arts College 19 
			 Hertfordshire The Bushey Academy 21 
			 Norfolk City Academy Norwich 26 
			 Norfolk The Hewett School 28 
			 Peterborough The Voyager School 24 
			 Suffolk Newmarket College 29 
			 Thurrock The Grays School Media Arts College 30 
			
			  London   
			 Haringey Greig City Academy 30 
			 Lewis ham Prendergast-Ladywell Fields College 29 
			 Newham Eastlea Community School 29 
			 Greenwich The Eltham Foundation School 28 
			 Hounslow Hounslow Manor School 28 
			 Merton St Marks Church of England Academy 23 
			
			  South East   
			 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Vale Academy 26 
			 Hampshire Everest Community College 17 
			 Hampshire Oak Farm Community School 27 
			 Kent Angley School-A Sports College 28 
			 Kent Astor College for the Arts 30 
			 Kent Aylesford School-Sports College 27 
			 Kent Folkestone Academy 25 
			 Kent The Charles Dickens School 28 
			 Kent The Isle of Sheppey Academy 30 
			 Kent The Malling School 26 
			 Kent The Marlowe Academy 14 
			 Medway Strood Academy 29 
			 Milton Keynes Leon School and Sports College 25 
			 Milton Keynes The Milton Keynes Academy 19 
			 Portsmouth Charter Academy 24 
			 Reading John Madejski Academy 28 
			 Southampton Chamberlayne College for the Arts 30 
			 Southampton Oasis Academy Mayfield 29 
			 Southampton Woodlands Community College 30 
			 West Sussex The Regis School 30 
			
			  South West   
			 Bristol, City of Merchants' Academy 25 
			 Bristol, City of Oasis Academy Brightstowe 29 
			 Bristol, City of Oasis Academy Bristol 29 
			 Plymouth Sir John Hunt Community Sports College 28 
			 Poole Carter Community School 23 
			  Source: 2010 School and College Performance Tables.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children have achieved five A* to C GCSEs, including English and mathematics, in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area in each year from 1997 to 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of 15-year-old pupils( 1)  achieving 5+ A*-C grades inc. English and Mathematics at GCSE and equivalent. Years: 1996/97 to 1999/2000( 2)  (final) 
			   1996/97  1997/98  1998/99  1999/2000( 3) 
			  (a) England (maintained sector)(4) 32.5 34.0 39.4 37.3 
			  
			  (b) Local authority/Government office region 
			  North East 28.0 28.4 30.8 32.9 
			 Darlington 28.1 28.1 32.7 37.3 
			 Durham 27.4 27.8 29.7 31.8 
			 Gateshead 31.5 32.1 34.0 35.1 
			 Hartlepool 19.6 24.5 29.3 26.6 
			 Middlesbrough 21.0 19.4 23.8 26.3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 24.9 25.0 27.5 27.9 
			 North Tyneside 31.0 30.7 32.7 34.6 
			 Northumberland 34.2 36.5 37.3 40.8 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 30.0 29.4 35.1 35.6 
			 South Tyneside 27.3 30.8 32.4 33.0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 28.9 30.1 30.9 35.8 
			 Sunderland 26.1 22.7 26.0 28.4 
			  
			  North West 32.2 32.9 35.1 36.7 
			 Blackburn with Darwen (5)- 27.6 26.8 31.2 
			 Blackpool (5)- 24.9 27.5 28.8 
			 Bolton 30.3 30.6 33.3 32.6 
			 Bury 37.3 39.5 44.4 45.0 
			 Former Cheshire 37.5 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Cheshire (5)- 42.4 43.7 46.6 
			 Cumbria 33.4 33.6 37.0 38.9 
			 Halton (5)- 24.7 28.9 29.7 
			 Knowsley 14.6 14.4 17.4 16.6 
			 Former Lancashire 34.6 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Lancashire (5)- 38.2 39.8 41.3 
			 Liverpool 23.8 24.5 26.6 28.3 
			 Manchester 19.1 20.9 22.5 23.0 
			 Oldham 27.4 27.5 30.7 31.8 
			 Rochdale 25.3 26.1 29.7 29.4 
			 Salford 22.1 24.1 25.0 25.0 
			 Sefton 35.6 34.7 39.2 39.3 
			 St. Helens 30.0 30.6 34.2 37.6 
			 Stockport 40.8 40.3 41.0 43.0 
			 Tameside 28.5 29.1 30.6 32.0 
			 Trafford 44.3 45.5 47.1 50.0 
			 Warrington (5)- 36.2 37.9 40.5 
			 Wigan 34.6 33.3 34.7 36.5 
			 Wirral 35.3 35.0 36.9 39.4 
			  
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 28.8 29.9 31.6 33.2 
			 Barnsley 21.0 22.6 25.0 25.8 
			 Bradford 20.8 22.8 24.6 25.2 
			 Calderdale 29.4 31.7 33.4 34.6 
			 Doncaster 24.8 24.7 27.9 28.2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 34.2 36.4 39.4 40.1 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 14.8 16.8 15.8 19.0 
			 Kirklees 30.5 29.7 31.7 33.8 
			 Leeds 28.5 29.7 31.3 33.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 22.8 24.1 27.6 27.0 
			 North Lincolnshire 30.2 32.7 32.9 35.6 
			 North Yorkshire 42.7 44.3 46.3 47.9 
			 Rotherham 27.8 28.0 31.1 31.3 
			 Sheffield 29.3 29.9 29.0 32.5 
			 Wakefield 28.2 30.0 31.6 33.7 
			 York 41.0 38.7 40.2 41.9 
			  
			  East Midlands 31.9 33.1 35.1 36.1 
			 Derby 26.7 26.1 31.2 31.4 
			 Derbyshire 33.6 35.6 39.0 40.6 
			 Leicester 24.8 26.3 29.5 25.9 
			 Leicestershire 34.8 35.1 37.3 38.8 
			 Lincolnshire 39.3 39.4 40.8 42.7 
			 Northamptonshire 31.3 33.8 35.2 36.5 
			 Nottingham (5)- 18.5 18.9 19.4 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 28.0 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Nottinghamshire (5)- 32.9 32.9 34.2 
			 Rutland 40.7 35.2 44.6 45.4 
			  
			  West Midlands 30.1 31.2 33.8 35.1 
			 Birmingham 25.0 25.9 28.6 31.3 
			 Coventry 27.1 28.2 30.3 31.7 
			 Dudley 31.4 33.4 35.8 37.0 
			 Hereford and Worcester 34.8 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Herefordshire (5)- 37.8 41.7 43.1 
			 Sandwell 17.7 18.7 21.3 21.4 
			 Former Shropshire 37.0 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Shropshire (5)- 43.3 44.4 45.4 
			 Solihull 38.6 39.6 39.1 43.9 
			 Staffordshire 34.5 34.3 37.8 38.1 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 22.5 24.6 27.3 26.1 
			 Telford and Wrekin (5)- 33.4 36.6 38.2 
			 Walsall 25.4 25.8 28.9 29.3 
			 Warwickshire 34.9 36.2 38.1 39.9 
			 Wolverhampton 23.3 25.8 30.2 30.5 
			 Worcestershire (5)- 35.6 38.1 39.2 
			  
			  East of England 35.4 38.0 39.5 40.4 
			 Bedfordshire(4) 33.9 35.0 35.9 38.2 
			 Former Cambridgeshire 34.9 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Cambridgeshire (5)- 39.7 41.5 41.4 
			 Former Essex 35.0 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Essex (5)- 38.2 39.5 40.6 
			 Hertfordshire 41.5 44.8 45.9 46.9 
			 Luton 23.3 26.1 26.8 28.8 
			 Norfolk 34.0 36.5 37.3 37.7 
			 Peterborough (5)- 32.0 32.2 31.4 
			 Southend-on-Sea (5)- 40.7 44.6 44.3 
			 Suffolk 33.6 36.0 39.8 40.5 
			 Thurrock (5)- 23.7 26.5 29.1 
			  
			  London 29.9 32.4 33.9 35.1 
			 Inner London 21.4 22.8 24.3 25.5 
			 Camden 35.1 34.6 35.0 38.6 
			 Hackney 17.3 16.9 18.1 22.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 32.5 35.0 38.7 37.7 
			 Haringey 17.9 19.9 22.0 21.8 
			 Islington 16.5 15.6 20.2 17.5 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 28.0 29.5 31.4 37.4 
			 Lambeth 18.6 19.7 22.9 20.5 
			 Lewisham 19.4 22.2 23.6 24.9 
			 Newham 23.2 23.9 24.2 23.1 
			 Southwark 17.1 18.2 19.9 21.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 15.0 17.7 20.3 20.5 
			 Wandsworth 23.2 26.3 25.8 31.2 
			 Westminster 22.5 24.8 25.3 27.5 
			  
			  Outer London 33.8 37.0 38.3 39.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 22.0 22.5 24.1 26.5 
			 Barnet 42.2 46.7 47.2 47.7 
			 Bexley 35.6 37.7 39.2 40.8 
			 Brent 30.1 34.9 33.4 38.2 
			 Bromley 42.5 45.5 47.5 50.2 
			 Croydon 28.4 30.2 32.0 32.2 
			 Ealing 28.2 32.9 32.9 33.2 
			 Enfield 31.4 33.4 36.5 35.0 
			 Greenwich 19.9 23.3 22.8 22.9 
			 Harrow 40.0 41.9 44.2 45.8 
			 Havering 37.9 39.7 43.6 45.6 
			 Hillingdon 30.1 33.9 35.4 36.6 
			 Hounslow 31.3 36.1 36.3 36.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 44.7 48.7 46.5 52.3 
			 Mellon 30.1 31.2 33.3 32.9 
			 Redbridge 39.3 44.3 46.5 47.6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 36.5 40.4 42.1 41.5 
			 Sutton 47.3 51.2 52.8 56.2 
			 Waltham Forest 25.0 27.6 28.3 30.0 
			  
			  South East 37.2 38.9 40.9 42.1 
			 Berkshire 40.0 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Bracknell Forest (5)- 37.7 38.1 38.6 
			 Brighton and Hove 27.1 29.6 32.1 33.2 
			 Buckinghamshire 50.4 51.0 53.5 53.5 
			 East Sussex 33.3 35.6 37.0 40.2 
			 Hampshire 37.6 40.1 42.3 44.1 
			 Isle of Wight 32.0 28.5 34.8 33.9 
			  Former Kent 37.5 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Kent (5)- 40.5 42.0 42.7 
			 Medway - 36.4 37.8 36.6 
			 Milton Keynes 21.9 22.0 23.3 25.9 
			 Oxfordshire 36.7 36.1 37.9 40.4 
			 Portsmouth 18.5 20.2 21.5 23.0 
			 Reading (5)- 35.0 36.6 39.2 
			 Slough (5)- 36.7 40.8 42.2 
			 Southampton 29.4 29.9 30.7 30.3 
			 Surrey 40.0 43.0 45.5 47.0 
			 West Berkshire (5)- 42.6 44.9 45.7 
			 West Sussex 38.3 38.9 41.5 42.0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead (5)- 46.5 47.2 48.0 
			 Wokingham (5)- 48.2 50.4 52.2 
			  
			  South West 36.1 37.9 39.4 40.8 
			 Isles of Scilly 27.8 57.1 45.2 53.8 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 40.2 41.8 42.3 45.2 
			 Bournemouth 40.5 41,7 41.0 40.2 
			 Bristol, City of 22.6 21.0 22.0 23.2 
			 Cornwall 36.0 38.1 40.1 41.2 
			 Former Devon 33.8 (5)- (5)- (5)- 
			 Devon (5)- 37.0 37.3 38.6 
			 Dorset 36.6 38.5 40.0 42.8 
			 Gloucestershire 41.6 43.7 45.2 46.6 
			 North Somerset 38.3 41.2 40.9 42.7 
			 Plymouth (5)- 33.1 38.5 38.5 
			 Poole 40.8 44.0 45.9 48.7 
			 Somerset 37.6 39.6 41.2 42.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 33.3 33.8 37.0 37.2 
			 Swindon 34.9 34.2 35.9 35.5 
			 Torbay (5)- 41.3 39.7 42.6 
			 Wiltshire 39.0 40.1 41.5 44.4 
			 (1) Age at the start of the academic year. (2) Including attempts and achievement in previous academic years. (3) In 1999/2000, local authority, Government office region and total figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (4) Maintained schools only, including maintained special schools and CTCs. Academies were not in existence during this time period. (5) Local authority not in existence at that time.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools achieved five A* to C GCSEs, including English and mathematics, for  (a) under 20 per cent.,  (b) 20 to 30 per cent.,  (c) 30 to 35 per cent.,  (d) 35 per cent. to 40 per cent.,  (e) 40 to 45 per cent. and  (f) 45 to 50 per cent of pupils in the latest year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The breakdown of the number of schools by the percentage of pupils that achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics is shown in the following table. The figures shown are for only those open maintained mainstream schools (including city technology colleges and academies, but excluding hospital schools and pupil referral units) with results published in the 2010 school and college performance tables with more than 10 pupils on roll at the end of Key Stage 4.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils in the school who achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics  Number of schools 
			 Under 20% 4 
			 Equal to 20% and less than 30% 78 
			 Equal to 30% and less than 35% 143 
			 Equal to 35% and less than 40% 215 
			 Equal to 40% and less than 45% 311 
			 Equal to 45% and less than 50% 353

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of students achieved five GCSE at grades A* to C or equivalent in each year from 1990 to 2010; and what proportion achieved these grades, excluding  (a) non-GCSE qualifications,  (b) non-GCSE qualifications and religious studies GCSEs and  (c) non-GCSE qualifications, religious studies GCSEs and vocational GCSEs in each year.

Nick Gibb: The figures are presented in the following table:
	
		
			   Percentage of pupils( 1)  achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-C or the equivalent  Percentage of pupils( 1)  achieving 5+ GCSEs or vocational GCSEs at A*-C (a)  Percentage of pupils( 1)  achieving 5+ GCSEs or vocational GCSEs at A*-C, when Religious Studies is excluded (b)  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-C, when Religious Studies is excluded (c) 
			 1995 43.5 43.5 43.0 43.0 
			 2000 49.3 48.9 48.5 48.5 
			 2005 56.8 53.2 52.5 51.1 
			 2010 75.4 57.8 56.7 55.1 
			 (1) Prior to 2005, statistics were based on pupils aged 15. In 2005, statistics based on pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 4 were introduced, which aimed to take better account of the attainment of pupils learning at different rates. Since 2009, all figures have been based exclusively on pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 4.  Source: School and College Performance Tables 
		
	
	Further years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Figures for 2010 are revised, all other years are final.

GCSE: Religious Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils  (a) were entered for GCSEs in religious education and  (b) passed such examinations at grades A* to C in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Religious education 
			   Number of pupils entered for full GCSE  Number of pupils achieving A*-C in full GCSE 
			 1996/97 100,909 54,715 
			 1997/98 94,165 51,728 
			 1998/99 96,554 54,934 
			 1999/2000 95,644 55,228 
			 2000/01 100,445 58,903 
			 2001/02 103,301 62,660 
			 2002/03 113,970 70,867 
			 2003/04 123,478 80,559 
			 2004/05 130,367 89,252 
			 2005/06 143,863 100,760 
			 2006/07 154,204 109,677 
			 2007/08 163,967 118,625 
			 2008/09 167,267 122,644 
			 2009/10 176,301 129,349 
		
	
	In addition to the full GCSE courses shown in the table above, religious education is the most popular subject to be taken as a short course GCSE. In 2010, 228,435 pupils entered the short course religious education GCSE, 118,133 of whom achieved grade A*-C.
	These figures include all schools. Data for 1996/97 to 2006/07 are based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year. Data for 2007/08 onwards are based on all pupils at the end of key stage 4.
	The latest available figures are published on the departmental website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000985/index.shtml

Geography: Education

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to respond to Ofsted's report on geography in schools; and if he will publish his response.

Nick Gibb: We welcome the Ofsted report "Geography, Learning to make a world of difference" which was published by Ofsted on 4 February 2011, and the recommendations that it makes to schools.
	We want pupils to learn a core set of knowledge and skills at school, and a child's education is diminished without a sound understanding of geography. It is clear that some subjects of which all pupils should have a good grasp, are now less popular choices at GCSE. The English Baccalaureate will therefore recognise the work of pupils who achieve an A*-C in a humanity GCSE such as geography.
	In addition, our review of the National Curriculum will take a root and branch look at how we can put a clearer focus on content and the essential knowledge that all children should acquire while leaving heads and teachers free to decide how to teach this most effectively.

Holocaust Educational Trust

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to encourage schools to participate in the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Nick Gibb: This Department greatly values the important contribution the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) makes to educating young people about the lessons of the Holocaust. That is why this Department funds the HET's "Lessons from Auschwitz project" which gives the opportunity for two students (aged 16-18) from every school/sixth form college in England to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a matter for the devolved administrations to decide whether to encourage their schools to participate in the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Languages: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the average number of hours of foreign language teaching primary school children receive per week.

Nick Gibb: Research published by the Department in July 2009 measured the amount of time spent in class per week teaching languages. In 2006, between 24% (in year 6) and 30% (in year 3) of primary schools taught around half an hour of languages per week, while 29% (in year 4) and 36% (in year 6) taught around an hour per week. In 2007, the median figure was 35-40 minutes per week and in 2008 40-45 minutes per week.

Languages: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provides for the teaching of modern foreign languages in primary schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department has provided funding to local authorities to support the teaching of languages in primary schools until March 2011. This totalled £32.5 million in 2010-11. At least two-thirds of this money is devolved to schools.
	The Department has provided funding to CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to support the teaching of languages in primary schools. In 2010-11, this totalled £1.6 million.
	The Department has provided funding to the Training and Development Agency for Schools to run a primary initial teacher training (ITT) course in a languages specialism involving some 900 trainees a year in 40 ITT providers. This totalled £1.67 million in 2010-11.

Missing Persons: Children

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home.

Tim Loughton: Guidance for local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home and care is provided in the document "Statutory guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care" published in 2009. It is available on the DFE website at:
	www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/safeguarding/a0066653/young-runaways

Outdoor Science

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the conclusions and recommendations of the report Outdoor Science by the Association for Science Education Outdoor Science Working Group.

Nick Gibb: The Government are committed to improving the standard of science education. We recognise the value of fieldwork in enhancing and enriching the experience of teaching of the sciences and welcome contributions to developing good practice which can be shared with schools and teachers. The Department is currently undertaking a review of the National Curriculum including science. This review will provide the ASE the opportunity to feed in their recommendations and conclusions.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials of his Department have been appointed to work on the internal review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 27 January 2011
	One full-time official is planning the review of PSHE. This official is supported by the policy team which has responsibility for PSHE and pastoral care. This team has six officials.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 572W, on schools: health education, when he plans to publish the  (a) terms of reference and  (b) participants in the internal review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	Decisions relating to the process and time scale for the internal PSHE Review have not yet been taken. The Department for Education is currently considering options and further information will be available in due course.

Physical Education: GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many GCSEs in physical education were  (a) undertaken and  (b) passed at grades A* to C in each year from 1995 to 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Physical education  Number of pupils entered for full GCSE  Number of pupils achieving A*- C in full GCSE 
			 1994/95 63,257 26,598 
			 1995/96 75,352 33,192 
			 1996/97 80,914 36,917 
			 1997/98 83,665 41,970 
			 1998/99 93,503 47,368 
			 1999/2000 96,769 50,845 
			 2000/01 105,651 56,284 
			 2001/02 111,750 61,681 
			 2002/03 110,744 62,677 
			 2003/04 121,433 70,734 
			 2004/05 141,945 83,671 
			 2005/06 151,185 91,201 
			 2006/07 154,629 94,751 
			 2007/08 148,257 92,677 
			 2008/09 135,454 88,282 
			 2009/10 122,525 84,212 
		
	
	These figures include all schools.
	Data for 1994/95 to 2006/07 are based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year.
	Data for 2007/08 onwards are based on all pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.
	The latest available figures are published on the departmental website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000985/index.shtml

Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) women and  (b) men have been appointed to public duties by his Department since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: Information on key public appointments made since May 2010 is published in individual press releases. These should include information on remuneration. Press releases are available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews
	In addition, information on the gender of those serving on the boards of public bodies is published annually. Information for the 2010-11 period will be published in due course.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much additional funding for schools in Nuneaton constituency he expects to be provided through the introduction of the proposed pupil premium.

Nick Gibb: The deprivation pupil premium for 2011-12 will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils that are known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 School Censuses. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals will attract £430 of funding which will go to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting or will be managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
	The January 2010 School Censuses allow an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made. In Nuneaton in January 2010 there were 2,035 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £875,050. However, these are estimates only and are not necessarily indicative of how the pupil premium will be distributed. The number of eligible pupils in 2011 could be higher or lower.
	 Notes:
	1. The numbers, rounded to the nearest 5, are based on FSM full-time equivalent pupils in maintained primary schools, secondary schools, academies and maintained special schools who were in reception to year 11 at the January 2010 School Census. Please note suppressed figures for schools with FSM counts less 3 have not been included in these totals.
	2. The above estimates do not include FSM-eligible pupils in Pupil Referral Units: those recorded on the Alternative Provision census (i.e. funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in non-maintained special schools, further education establishments, etc.) or those that are not following the national curriculum although these pupils are eligible for the pupil premium if they are aged between four and 15 years.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in receipt of free school meals  (a) attend schools and  (b) are resident in Mid Sussex constituency.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 February 2011
	Information on free school meal eligibility is shown in the following table. The answer includes full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary( 1) , state-funded secondary( 1,2)  and special schools( 3) : school meal arrangements( 4,5) , Mid Sussex, January 2010 
			   Number on roll( 4,5)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals( 4,5)  Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  Pupils attending schools in Mid Sussex constituency
			 Maintained nursery and primary(1) 7,600 347 4.6 
			 State-funded secondary(1,2) 7,033 283 4.0 
			 Special(3) 234 43 18.4 
			 
			  Pupils resident( 6)  in mid-Sussex constituency
			 Maintained nursery and primary(1) 7,225 323 4.5 
			 State-funded secondary(1,2) 5,408 218 4.0 
			 Special(3) 148 27 18.2 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (5) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (6) Based on pupils' postcode as reported in School Census.  Source: School Census

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the levels of attainment of pupils eligible for free school meals in  (a) Wells constituency and  (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We are determined to close the attainment gap between pupils from poorer and wealthier backgrounds and want to see more resources being spent on the education of children from deprived backgrounds. The Pupil Premium will provide additional funding specifically linked to pupils eligible for free school meals with the primary aim of boosting attainment. We will also ensure that schools have to account to parents for how they have used the Premium to achieve this.
	The latest available information for the 2009/10 academic year is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils achieving the expected level at key stage 2 in English and mathematics, and reading, writing and mathematics attending maintained schools( 1)  in Wells parliamentary constituency( 2)  and England by free school meal eligibility, 2009/10 
			   Pupils eligible for free school meals  Pupils not eligible for free school meals 
			   Percentage achieving the expected level in English and mathematics  Percentage achieving the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics  Percentage achieving the expected level in English and mathematics  Percentage achieving the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics 
			 Wells 59 43 78 69 
			 England 56.0 45.4 77.4 68.6 
			 (1) Pupils attending maintained schools only (including city technology colleges and academies). (2) Overseas pupils are excluded from the parliamentary constituency figures. They are however included in the national figures.  Source: National Pupil Database (amended data) 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils( 1,2)  achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent, and five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs attending maintained schools( 3 ) in Wells parliamentary constituency( 4)  and England by free school meal eligibility, 2009/10 
			   Pupils eligible for free school meals  Pupils not eligible for free school meals 
			   Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades  Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades including English and Maths GCSEs  Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades  Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades including English and Maths GCSEs 
			 Wells 35.8 28.4 73.7 58.9 
			 England 58.6 31.2 78.8 58.8 
			 (1) Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in the academic year. (2) In 2009/10 iGCSEs have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (3) Pupils attending maintained schools only (including city technology colleges and academies). (4) Parliamentary constituency figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. They are however included in the national figures.  Source: National Pupil Database (amended data)

Schools: Discipline

Louise Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to reduce the burden of administration on schools in respect of disciplinary matters.

Nick Gibb: We are clear that schools should be trusted to apply the most appropriate approaches to behaviour and discipline. By stripping away unnecessary regulation and prescription and by reducing the amount of paperwork and bureaucracy we will free teachers to re-assert their authority. As part of this approach, we are slashing the amount of guidance on behaviour and bullying that teachers are expected to read from over 700 pages to under 100 pages.

Schools: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on school transport in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government have received five representations specifically about North Yorkshire county council's consultation on its policy to withdraw free school transport to faith schools. One representation was from the hon. Member, three from parents and one from a head teacher of a school.
	Home to school transport policy has remained largely unchanged since the 1944 Education Act when the social, economic and education landscape was very different. The Department is carrying out a review of home to school transport. As part of that we are considering how best practice can be spread to all local authorities, and will make further announcements in due course.

Schools: Religious Practice

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many schools have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective Christian worship (i) in England and (ii) in Suffolk since the establishment of such a requirement; and how many such applications were awaiting a determination in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  which schools in Suffolk have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective Christian worship since the establishment of such a requirement; and which applications were awaiting a determination in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: There is no national data available about schools which have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to lift the requirement to provide a daily act of Christian collective worship. Therefore, we cannot provide data on schools making such a request either at a national or a local level.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of the services to be provided by the all-age careers service will be available  (a) online,  (b) via a helpline and  (c) in the form of face-to-face meetings with a qualified adviser; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The all-age careers service will be accessible through a range of channels to reflect individual need. The online and helpline provision will be accessible to all young people and adults. Face-to-face careers guidance will be prioritised for those with the greatest need. We are developing the detail of the new service in discussion with local authorities, schools and the careers sector.
	Alongside this, schools will take responsibility for securing access to independent, impartial careers guidance, whether from the all-age service or other high quality careers guidance services. They will have freedom to fulfil this responsibility in ways that best suit the needs of their students.

Social Workers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the incidence of  (a) physical and  (b) verbal abuse against child protection social workers.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not collect this information; it is held by organisations that employ social workers.
	As outlined in the General Social Care Council's Code of Practice for Social Care Employers, it is the responsibility of employers of social care workers to have in place clear policies and procedures for minimising the risk of violence. Employers of social care workers are also expected to have procedures in place for staff to report any incidences of physical or verbal violence against them and to support staff who have experienced such incidences in the course of their work.

Social Workers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the average number of children on the case load of a child protection social worker; and if he will estimate the change in the size of the average caseload in each of the next five years.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not collect information on the caseloads of child protection social workers; this information is held by the organisations that employ them and whose responsibility it is to manage caseloads.
	In its 2009 Workload Survey, the Social Work Task Force reported that the number of cases held by social workers varied considerably. Over 700 social workers and managers working in local authority children's services departments took part in this survey. 44% of the children's and families' social workers and managers who participated in the survey held 15 active cases or fewer, 23% held between 16 and 20 cases and 24% reported holding over 20 active cases. The remaining 9% of participants in the survey provided no information on the number of cases they held.
	The Social Work Task Force's Workload Survey can be accessed at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/s/social%20workers%20workload%20survey.pdf
	Between 2008-09 and 2009-10, referrals to Children's Services Departments have risen, as has the volume of assessments carried out by children and families' social workers. The Department for Education does not hold information on how this increase has impacted on caseloads. Further information on the volume of referrals and assessments can be found in Professor Munro's February 2011 interim report, available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/munroreview/

Special Educational Needs: Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to ensure adequate provision of special educational needs services in the transfer of schools to academy status.

Nick Gibb: The Department is conducting a wide-reaching review of school funding from 2012-13, with the aim of a consultation by late spring 2011. This review will include the longer term funding of academies and the funding of services for vulnerable groups, including those with special needs.
	With the help of the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA), DfE has undertaken a small survey of open academies to inform immediate thinking in this area. We also intend to work with partners such as the YPLA and the Special Educational Consortium on the issue of monitoring the impact of academy conversions on the provision of special educational needs services for the longer term.

St Luke's School: Finance

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the  (a) capital costs,  (b) revenue costs and  (c) number of additional pupil places arising from the decision to permit St Luke's School in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency to proceed with its application to create a free school; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: There will be some capital costs involved in establishing St Luke's school and work is currently under way to finalise these costs. St Luke's, like all free schools, will receive revenue funding at a rate that is equivalent to maintained schools and academies in their local authority. If the St Luke's school is established, it is proposing to admit 15 pupils per year, providing places for a total of 105 pupils when fully operational.

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to remove the requirement on head teachers to apply to the local authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education in order to enable their school to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective worship of a wholly or mainly Christian character.

Nick Gibb: Collective worship in schools is one of the longest-standing traditions of the school system. It is also one that encourages pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in the traditions and values of this country.
	We believe that it is wholly consistent with our culture of tolerance and inclusivity to celebrate the traditions of this country-which are, in the main, Christian-while recognising and celebrating those of others in our diverse society.
	The law as it stands allows schools the flexibility to apply to have the requirement for broadly Christian collective worship lifted, where such a course is justified, while meeting the need for accountability to the local community. We therefore have no plans to bring forward proposals to remove the requirement on head teachers to apply to have the determination for wholly or mainly Christian collective worship lifted.

Sure Start: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Sure Start places were provided in Ashfield constituency in 2009-10; and how many such places he expects to be provided in 2010-11.

Sarah Teather: Since March 2008 Nottinghamshire has had a total of 58 children's centres providing access to services for 41,128 children under five and their families. Nine of these centres are in the Ashfield constituency, providing access to services for 5,540 children under five and their families.
	Figures for the number of children under five and their families actually attending and using children's centres are not collected centrally. Local authorities have a duty under section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006 to provide sufficient provision of children's centres.

Teachers

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the qualified teacher status standards.

Nick Gibb: In the Schools White Paper 'The Importance of teaching' we said that we will review existing measures of teacher performance and conduct, including the current professional standards for teachers and the General Teaching Council for England's (GTCE) code of conduct and practice, to establish clear and unequivocal standards. As part of that review we will look at the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.

Teachers: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many members of the Teachers Pension Scheme there are.

Nick Gibb: The latest available information taken from data submitted last year by the Department to the Independent Commission into Public Sector Pensions shows that the Teacher's Pension Scheme has 637,042 active members, 419,687 deferred members and 511,364 pensioner members in the scheme.

Teachers: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assumptions he has made in respect of the dropout rate from the Teachers Pension Scheme attributable to  (a) potential increases in contributions and  (b) its indexation against the consumer prices index; what assessment he has made of the effects of the dropout rate on the future viability of this fund; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: At the spending review the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that some additional members, amounting to 1% of the value of the paybill, would opt-out of all the public service schemes as a result of the proposed increase in pension contributions.
	Further consideration of the effects of this policy on the opt-out rate will be made as part of the process of determining the distribution of increases in contributions across members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The Government are engaging with employee representatives on the principles to apply across public service schemes, and wishes to implement change in a way which minimises increases in opt-out rates. The Government are already committed to implementing contribution increases in a progressive way so that higher earners pay higher rates than lower earners.
	No assessment has been made of the number of additional members that might opt-out as a result of the change in indexation.

Teachers: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the pension entitlement will be of a member of the Teachers' Pension Scheme who retires after 30 years' full-time service on a salary of  (a) £10,000,  (b) £15,000,  (c) £20,000,  (d) £25,000,  (e) £30,000,  (f) £40,000 and  (g ) £50,000 if the pension is updated in line with (i) the retail prices index and (ii) the consumer prices index.

Nick Gibb: Pension entitlement under the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is calculated through reference to pensionable service and average salary. Full details of the calculation of pension entitlement under the TPS are provided on the TPS website, and be accessed using the following link:
	http://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/members/members9.htm
	Annual pension payments will increase annually in line with legislation. I cannot give figures for these increases because I cannot predict the size of future changes in any indexation measure.

Teachers: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the likely savings to the Teachers Pension Scheme of the proposed indexation according to the consumer prices index  (a) in 2010-11 and  (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years.

Nick Gibb: The Government have not made any separate estimate of the change in central Government expenditure  (a) in 2010-11 or  (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years for the Teachers' Pension Scheme as a result of the change to indexation of public service pensions and benefits in line with the consumer prices index.
	However, the overall estimated savings in annually managed expenditure over the forecast period for public service pension expenditure were made available in answers to the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) on 27 July 2010,  Official Report, column 1193W; and the Office of Budgetary Responsibility, responsible for forecasting expenditure on public service pensions, has included the change to indexation in line with the consumer prices index in their methodology.

Vocational Guidance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has developed a transition plan for the change from existing careers advice services to the new all-age careers advice service.

Nick Gibb: We are aiming to set out more detail shortly on the arrangements for the all-age careers service, including how the service will be delivered, which should help local authorities-and schools-develop their own plans for transition. We are working with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services, and other organisations with an interest in careers guidance, on the development of the new service and the transitional arrangements that will be needed to provide access for young people to careers guidance in advance of the establishment of the all-age careers service.

Vocational Guidance: Training

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase the training, professional development and skills of those who give careers advice in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government have accepted recommendations of the Careers Profession Task Force, set out in their report, "Towards A Strong Careers Profession" and published in October 2010. The Government are working with the Careers Profession Alliance and other sector organisations to implement these recommendations, which include a focus on ensuring all careers advisers have the initial training and continuing professional development to carry out their role effectively, within a strong careers profession.

Wirral Schools Private Finance Initiative

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have participated in the Wirral schools private finance initiative in the last five years; and what the names are of such schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 February 2011
	Nine schools have participated in the Wirral schools private finance initiative in the last five years. They are:
	Bebington high sports college
	South Wirral high school
	Wallasey school
	Park high school
	Wirral grammar school for girls
	Hilbre high school
	Weatherhead high school media arts college
	Prenton high school for girls
	Leasowe primary school

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Billing

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the independent providers of bill payment services since 30 September 2010.

Edward Davey: My scheduled meeting with PayPoint in April will be the first such meeting since 30 September 2010.

Business: Electricity

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of a smart electricity grid for business in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the extent of opportunities for businesses which may be created by the development of a smart electricity grid in the UK.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' officials have made no formal assessment but are aware of the potential opportunities and benefits and are monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with officials in the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to promote low carbon technology exports.

Mark Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) promotes UK low carbon technology exports through its core services for businesses, such as trade missions, trade shows and exhibitions both overseas and in the UK. For example, UKTI organised an Environment and Water trade mission for UK businesses with low carbon solutions in India for the week commencing 7 February 2011.
	UKTI is leading the UK's low carbon 2010/11 campaign to ensure there is increased awareness of the UK's low carbon 'Know How'. In the last six months we have undertaken a range of promotional activities in our priority markets of China, India, Brazil and West Coast North America.

Carbon Emissions: North East

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support the development of low-carbon technology in the North East.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is taking a number of steps to support the development of low carbon technology in the North East.
	BIS has provided up to £20.7 million to support the manufacture of electric vehicles and associated battery production at the Nissan plant in Sunderland.
	BIS (together with the Department for Transport) has made £2.4 million available under the Government's Plugged-In Places programme to the North East, with a further £1.5 million made available out to 2013. This funding will see around 1,300 vehicle charging points being installed across the North East over the next three years.
	BIS is funding the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth. In particular, Narec is receiving £11.5 million for an offshore wind blade test site, £18.5 million for an offshore wind turbine test site and £10 million for a marine drive train facility.
	BIS has funded (thorough the North East Regional Development Agency) the Tees Valley Industrial programme, which has committed £42 million for industrial transformation, particularly in the areas of low carbon and advanced manufacturing.

Departmental Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many providers classified as outstanding who have been exempted from inspection for eight years will no longer receive direct contracts under the Skills Funding Agency's proposals relating to minimum contract value.

John Hayes: holding answer 16 February 2011
	 As a part of our commitment to free further education (FE) colleges and training organisations from stifling bureaucracy, we announced in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth" in November 2010 that we would suspend inspections for those FE colleges that were judged by Ofsted to be 'outstanding' and pledged to extend this to training organisations.
	We will introduce a minimum contract level (MCL) in the 2011/12 academic year as part of our commitment to create a streamlined and more efficient FE system. In an environment of declining budgets, it becomes increasing difficult for small providers to operate without realising the efficiencies of shared services or economies of scale through collaboration or sub-contracting. The Skills Funding Agency also needs to become more efficient and streamlined.
	Where there is a risk of specialist provision being lost or a significant impact on choice available in a particular area due to the introduction of the MCL, the Skills Funding Agency will consider on a case by case basis whether alternative arrangements need to be made. Due to the nature of the contract that they have with the Skills Funding Agency, general FE and specialist colleges will be exempt from the application of the MCL.
	We do not hold information centrally on the number of further education colleges and training organisations that have been judged to be 'outstanding' and that are below the MCL and so I have asked the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency to write to the hon. Member to provide these details with a copy being placed in the House.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010.

Edward Davey: Between the 1 May 2010 and 17 February a total of 591 staff left the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UKTI). These staff had a combined FTE of 500.37.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed on the latest date for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: On the 17 February the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UKTI) employed 3250 staff. These staff had a combined FTE of 3146.43.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010.

Edward Davey: On the 1 May 2010 the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UKTI) employed 3641 staff. These staff had a combined FTE of 3595.49.

Departmental Offices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) setting up and  (b) maintaining his Department's offices in the English regions in the financial year 2011-12.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 17 February 2011
	A budget of £3.5 million per annum has been estimated. This includes salary and associated administrative costs.

Departmental Offices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to locate the new regional offices of his Department in premises currently occupied by regional development agencies or Government Offices of the Regions.

Mark Prisk: The Department intends to locate the new local offices in existing BIS or BIS agency premises. The exact locations for the teams are still being determined and some will have dual locations to provider wider geographic coverage. It is not currently possible to confirm when decisions on locations will be made.

Departmental Offices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of establishing his Department's new regional offices.

Mark Prisk: A budget of £3.5 million per annum has been estimated. This includes salary and associated administrative costs.

Departmental Offices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of closing regional development agencies; and what proportion of such costs arise from  (a) redundancy,  (b) premises and  (c) other costs.

Mark Prisk: I refer to the answer given on 19 January 2011,  Official Report, column 833W, covering total costs including redundancies. There are no estimates of the cost of closure for premises at present as alternative use may be made of some buildings now occupied by regional development agencies.

Educational Maintenance Grant

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects Student Finance England to reply to the constituent of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, K D Bennett, on when she will receive her maintenance grant for the 2010-11 academic year.

David Willetts: I understand that the Student Loans Company, which administers the Student Finance England service, contacted Ms Bennett on 16 February to inform her that payment of her maintenance grant for the 2010/11 academic year has now been made.

Employment: Graduates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist graduates in finding employment.

David Willetts: The Department's major contributions to graduate employment are our policies to stimulate growth, which will create more jobs in the long term. We have encouraged universities and colleges to prepare undergraduates for the workplace, and all universities have now set out in employability statements the support they give their students. We continue to encourage employers to invest in students and graduates by offering work experience and internships, which help them to develop valuable skills and boost their employment chances.

Employment: Graduates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many graduates have secured a place through the Graduate Talent Pool since its inception; and how many such places were based in Coventry.

David Willetts: The Graduate Talent Pool is designed as a service to put graduates in touch with employers offering internships. Since its launch, over 29,000 vacancies have been advertised on the site, and there are currently 2,325 internship vacancies. Early evaluation found that overall, 22% of graduate respondents secured and undertook an internship, which would suggest up to around 1440 actual internships were undertaken by graduates who registered in the first six months of the scheme. We do not routinely collect data on how many opportunities are taken up, and cannot say how many places were based in Coventry.

Employment: Graduates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of the Graduate Talent Pool.

David Willetts: As part of our programme to get Britain working, we continue to encourage employers to invest in students and graduates by offering work experience and internships which help them to develop valuable skills and boost their employment chances. We are considering the long term future of the Graduate Talent Pool.

Environment Protection

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will take steps to encourage the  (a) production and  (b) distribution of environmental products in Redditch;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of the manufacture of environmental products; and what steps he is taking to increase that contribution.

Mark Prisk: According to research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), low carbon and environmental goods and services sectors in the UK were worth £112 billion in 2008/09. They are growing at around 4% per annum to 2015.
	The Government have implemented a wide range of policies to encourage the development production, and uptake of low carbon, environmental goods and services.
	BIS, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have recently established a Green Economy Council, to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing business as we transition to a greener economy. These Departments will also publish a Roadmap to a Green Economy this spring, which will provide greater clarity and certainty for business investment decisions.
	BIS has also recently accepted a proposal for a Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, which is looking to drive business growth in Redditch and throughout the county.

Environment Protection

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2011,  Official Report, column 957W, on environment protection, what the dates of his discussions with ministerial colleagues were; which Ministers were involved; whether the discussions were part of a formal meeting; whether minutes or notes were taken; what the outcomes of the discussions were; and whether the discussions are ongoing.

Mark Prisk: BIS Ministers are having ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues about our efforts to build a green economy. The content of The Roadmap to a Green Economy was discussed at the following meetings. Notes were taken.
	19 January: Minister of State for Business and Enterprise and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	24 January: Deputy Prime Minister; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Transport; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Minister for Government Policy; Minister of State for Housing and Local Government.
	10 February 2011: Deputy Prime Minister; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Transport; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Economic Secretary to the Treasury; Minister for Government Policy; Minister of State for Housing and Local Government.
	16 February 2011: Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Minister of State for Business and Enterprise; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This discussion was part of a formal meeting of the Green Economy Council.

EU Internal Trade

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what further steps he plans to take to complete the single market in the EU.

Mark Prisk: The Government will publish their response to the Commission consultation on the Single Market Act on 28 February 2011. In this we argue that reforms to the single market should be seen as part of a wider strategy to encourage growth across the EU. We recommend that the Commission focus its efforts on those actions that will have the greatest positive impact on growth. Specifically, we recommend that the Commission takes action to:
	Improve the single market in services;
	Modernise the single market so as to enable businesses and citizens to take advantage of advances in digital technology; support the development of a single market in energy and low carbon; facilitate innovation; and help businesses trying to trade with the rest of the world; and
	Support small and medium enterprise growth and ensure that the single market works for citizens.
	Copies of the consultation response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Exports: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of small and medium-sized enterprises which export to Israel; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Mark Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides expert trade advice and practical support to UK-based companies wishing to export their products and services worldwide, and not just to Israel. With 2,400 staff and a presence in 96 countries, UKTI can assist small and medium-sized enterprises on every step of the exporting journey-whatever stage of their development. Through a range of unique services, including participation at selected trade fairs, outward and inward missions and bespoke market intelligence, UKTI can help UK small and medium-sized enterprises to penetrate foreign markets and understand overseas regulations and local business practices, helping them to increase their market penetration into new and existing markets, such as Israel.

Green Investment Bank

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011,  Official Report, column 387W, on the Green Investment Bank, what his definition is of significant additional funding; and what indicative range he expects proceeds from asset sales to fall within at an aggregate level.

Mark Prisk: To give information on expected proceeds from asset sales could prejudice the Government's commercial position in ongoing and future sale processes, I will make further announcements on this funding stream in due course.

Green Investment Bank: Finance

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what role the Green Investment Bank will have in  (a) encouraging and  (b) administering marine technology funding.

Mark Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will have a wide remit to tackle financing issues affecting the deployment of green infrastructure.
	We do not currently envisage the bank providing funding for research and development.
	Marine energy technologies are expected to play an important part in our future energy mix, and the Government are already providing funding to research, develop and demonstrate these technologies. In due course, when these technologies are more mature, it is possible that the bank could help to finance their deployment.
	We will make a detailed announcement on the GIB in May.

Higher Education

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the Government's funding proposals for tuition fees on the number of students applying to enter higher education.

David Willetts: The Department has commissioned a number of projects which have examined the impact of tuition fees. Reports are available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/research
	Evidence suggests that students are sensitive to price changes but they can be offset by comparable changes in the provision of grants and loans.
	Analysis of the 2006 reforms of tuition fees and student support in the UK found that an increase in tuition fees by £1,000 per annum-holding all other factors constant-would be expected to lead to a 4.4 percentage point decline in participation. However, in addition, it was found that a £1,000 per annum increase in grants increases participation by 2.1 percentage points while a £1,000 per annum increase in loans is associated with a 3.2 percentage point increase in participation.

Higher Education: Admissions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what deadlines he has set for the submission and approval of access agreements with universities; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time provided for universities to meet these requirements.

David Willetts: These are matters for the director of Fair Access. He is publishing his guidance to universities on these matters in early March.

Higher Education: Admissions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) Lord Browne of Madingley and  (b) other members of his review team on his Department's proposals on access to university since the publication of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance; and on what dates such discussions took place.

David Willetts: Since the publication of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance on 12 October 2010 I have had formal discussions with Lord Browne on 2 November 2010, 21 December 2010, 17 February 2011 and 25 February 2011. These meetings discussed a wide range of issues relating to higher education including access to universities. I have not met with other members of the review team. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has had no discussions with Lord Browne over this time period.

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average amount a postgraduate student will pay in university fees in academic year 2012-13; and what his policy is on the level of fees charged for postgraduate study.

David Willetts: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 18 January 2011,  Official Report, column 763W.

Higher Education: Northern Ireland

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Minister for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland on the implications for Northern Ireland  (a) students and  (b) universities resulting from his proposed changes to the funding of higher education in England.

David Willetts: I have had extensive discussions on our proposed reforms with relevant Ministers in each of the devolved Administrations, including Northern Ireland. As higher education is a fully devolved issue it is of course for each country to bring forward its own proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend, has not met with the hon. Member the Minister for Employment and Learning (Danny Kennedy).

Higher Education: Standards

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the research undertaken by the university of Bristol on performance at university of pupils educated in poorly-performing schools used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

David Willetts: I am aware of the conclusions of research by the university of Bristol on the performance of state and independently schooled entrants in terms of the class of the degree they obtained at the university of Bristol. The Higher Education Funding Council for England report that they do not use this information as they have no role in the process of admissions to the university.

Higher Education: Wales

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much income was generated from overseas students for universities in Wales in each of the last six years.

David Willetts: The income of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK is collected as part of the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) Finance Record. The annual income of Welsh HEIs from the tuition fees paid by non-EU students is shown in the following table. Figures are in cash terms, not in real terms, and relate to the academic year, not the financial year.
	
		
			  Income generated from tuition fees from non-EU students in Welsh higher education institutions 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Income (£000) 
			 2003/04 39,428 
			 2004/05 48,717 
			 2005/06 50,194 
			 2006/07 60,110 
			 2007/08 63,358 
			 2008/09 74,141 
			  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) finance record

Insolvency Service

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many company directors have been disqualified for  (a) attempted concealment of assets or cases where assets have disappeared or a deficiency is unexplained,  (b) appropriation of assets to other companies for no consideration, at an undervalue, or on the basis of unreasonable charges for services,  (c) preferences and  (d) personal benefits obtained by directors in each year since 2002;
	(2)  how many company directors have been disqualified for  (a) overvaluing assets in accounts for the purpose of obtaining loans or other financial accommodation or to mislead creditors,  (b) making loans to directors for share purchases,  (c) dishonoured cheques,  (d) the use of delaying tactics and  (e) non-payment of Crown debts to finance trading in each year since 2002;
	(3)  how many company directors have been disqualified for  (a) phoenix operations,  (b) misconduct in the operation of a factoring account,  (c) taking deposits for goods or services ultimately not supplied and  (d) cases where criminal convictions have resulted in each year since 2002.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service statistics of the allegation types made in disqualifications have been maintained since 2007-08 and are included the service's annual report published on its website.
	
		
			  Allegation types  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Crown debts 554 563 816 
			 Accounting matters 250 381 448 
			 Transactions to the detriment of creditors 161 246 391 
			 Criminal matters 101 174 258 
			 Misappropriation of assets 53 49 68 
			 Technical matters-statutory obligations 37 46 33 
			 Trading at a time when company knowingly or unknowingly insolvent 36 44 40 
			 Phoenix companies or multiple failures 13 14 12 
			 Other n/a n/a 98 
			 Total 1,205 1,517 2,164 
		
	
	Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.

Insolvency Service: Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of the budget of the Insolvency Service was spent on  (a) reviewing and  (b) investigating D1 reports and other work on the disqualification of company directors in each year since 2002.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service's budget is not structured in such a way that the detailed figures that you have requested are readily available. The Insolvency Service as a whole receives financing from both fees and direct funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. These figures are available in the service's annual reports and accounts. From 1 April 2004, the cost of case administration have been met by fees while investigation and enforcement is paid for by an allocation of programme funding from the budget of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as set out in the following table and notes. These figures relate to the cost of dealing with all aspects of the Insolvency Service's disqualification effort.
	
		
			  Investigation and enforcement expenditure 
			   £ 
			 2002-03 32,931,000 
			 2003-04 29,279,000 
			 2004-05 29,314,000 
			 2005-06 34,449,000 
			 2006-07 29,233,000 
			 2007-08 28,039,158 
			 2008-09 28,853,619 
			 2009-10 28,916,622 
			  Notes: 1. Figures exclude expenditure in relation to the investigation of live companies. 2. Figures up to and including 2006-07 include the investigation and enforcement of official receiver's cases (bankruptcies and companies). 3. Figures from 2007-08 exclude the expenditure on investigation of OR cases, but include the enforcement cost of those cases. 4. The figures for 2010-11 are not yet available.

Insolvency: Legal Costs

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of implementation of the proposals of the Jackson Review of civil litigation costs on insolvency practitioners' ability to  (a) claim against delinquent directors and  (b) pursue recoveries for creditors.

Edward Davey: Responses to the Government's recently concluded consultation on implementing a package of proposals for reforming conditional fee arrangements and other aspects of civil litigation funding and costs are presently being considered.
	Officials from the Ministry of Justice will liaise with officials from this Department to consider what, if any, impact there may be on the work undertaken by insolvency practitioners in the event that it is decided to take the proposals forward.
	The Government intend to publish a response to the consultation in the spring.

National Federation of SubPostmasters

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the National Federation of SubPostmasters since 30 September 2010.

Edward Davey: Since 30 September 2010, I have met representatives of the National Federation of SubPostmasters on three occasions. One of these meetings was held jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

National Scholarship Fund

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time students he estimates will receive assistance from the National Scholarship Fund in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: From 2014-15 we expect that the National Scholarship Programme will be supporting up to 100,000 students annually through Government funding and match funding from institutions. The balance between full-time and part-time students will emerge from choices that institutions and students make for themselves.

One North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the quantity of assets held in land by One North East.

Mark Prisk: Details of One North East's assets are contained in its annual report and accounts (HC125). Detail of its land assets were provided in my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) on 28 October 2010,  Official Report, column 458W.

Overseas Students: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has of the number of Israeli students studying in universities in  (a) England and  (b) Wales; what subject each is studying; what steps (i) he is taking and (ii) plans to take in each of the next two years to promote UK universities in Israel; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on the number of Israeli domiciled enrolments to English and Welsh Higher Education Institutions is shown in the table. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.
	The Government are working through the British Council to promote the United Kingdom as a study destination for international students. With its network of offices across the world including in Israel, the British Council is well placed to help UK universities to recruit students and develop links with Israeli institutions. The Government have also supported the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange partnership scheme (BIRAX), managed by the British Council which enables researchers from Britain and Israel to work together on collaborative scientific projects.
	
		
			  Israeli domiciled enrolments( 1)  by subject of study  English and Welsh higher education i nstitutions  a cademic  y ear 2009/10 
			   Location of institution 
			  Subject of study  England  Wales 
			 Medicine and dentistry 10 - 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 25 0 
			 Biological sciences 35 - 
			 Veterinary science - 0 
			 Agriculture and related subjects - 0 
			 Physical sciences 15 0 
			 Mathematical sciences - 0 
			 Computer science 10 0 
			 Engineering and technology 25 0 
			 Architecture, building and planning 10 - 
			 Social studies 85 - 
			 Law 45 - 
			 Business and administrative studies 80 - 
			 Mass communications and documentation 10 - 
			 Languages 20 - 
			 Historical and philosophical studies 20 0 
			 Creative arts and design 60 - 
			 Education 65 0 
			 Combined - 0 
			 Total 520 15 
			 (1) Covers enrolments to full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures less than 5 are shown as '-', zero counts are shown as '0'. Due to rounding, columns may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Post Office: Meetings

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have met the Managing Director of the Post Office since 30 September 2010.

Edward Davey: Since 30 September 2010, I have had two meetings with Paula Vennells, managing director of Post Office Ltd.

Post Offices

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of retail outlets at which consumers can make cash payments for public utility services in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) Scotland; and what proportion of such outlets is provided by the Post Office in each such case.

Edward Davey: The Department has made no such estimate but is aware that large numbers of retail outlets, in addition to post offices, offer facilities for cash payments for public utility services across the UK.

Post Offices: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices have closed in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each year since 1981.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what plans he has to put in place statutory measures to regulate the purposes for which the Post Office Ltd is able to use state funding;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that state funding of the Post Office will be open to parliamentary scrutiny.

Edward Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has no plans to further regulate the purposes for which Post Office Ltd is able to use state funding. The Postal Services Act 2000 sets the parameters for the provision funding by Government to Post Office Limited. Government funding for the Post Office must of course also comply with any relevant European Commission state aid approval.
	We expect that ongoing funding to the Post Office will be provided under the Post Office Network Subsidy Scheme introduced in 2007 pursuant to section 103 of the Postal Services Act 2000. The amendment to the scheme required to make those payments was debated and approved by both Houses of Parliament in December 2010.
	An annual report on the post office network and the company's annual accounts will be required to be laid before Parliament under the provisions of the Postal Services Bill.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that state funding of the Post Office will be audited on a regular basis by the National Audit Office.

Edward Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) receives an annual report on the subsidy provided to the Post Office, which is verified by an independent firm of auditors. Under the provisions of the Postal Services Bill, Post Office Ltd's audited annual report will also be laid before Parliament. The Secretary of State has no plans to impose additional requirements, such as state funding of the Post Office being audited by the National Audit Office.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many Post Office branches received state funding in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average subsidy paid to each Post Office branch was in the last year for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: The annual Government subsidy (£150 million in 2009-10) to the post office network is to support the costs to Post Office Ltd of maintaining access to key services across its whole network of around 11,500 outlets. Post Office Ltd estimates that, without this funding, a commercial network would comprise around 4,000 branches.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has notified the European Commission of its intention to make state funding available to the Post Office; and what services his Department has designated as Services of General Economic Interest for this purpose.

Edward Davey: The Department has notified the European Commission regarding compensation to Post Office Ltd for costs incurred to provide services of general economic interest during the financial year 2011-12. Services of general economic interest are designated for this purpose as:
	1. Processing social benefit and tax credit payments to the public.
	2. Processing of national identity and licensing scheme applications.
	3. Universal payment facilities for public utility services.
	4. Universal postal service.
	5. Universal access to basic cash and banking facilities and Government savings instruments, especially for rural customers and those on social benefits.
	A notification for funding beyond 2012 will be submitted in due course.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of Post Office branches which will not make a profit in 2014-15.

Edward Davey: In the policy statement 'Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age' the Government made clear that a residual level of subsidy would almost certainly be required in the future to maintain a number of post office branches which could never be profitable but which provide a valuable social purpose. It is not possible to estimate the numbers of such branches at this stage but we expect them to be substantially lower than at present.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Post Office branches did not make a profit in the last financial year for which figures are available; and how many of such branches were located in rural areas.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how the money allocated by his Department to the Post Office in respect of  (a) network modernisation,  (b) technology,  (c) project costs and  (d) other purposes is expected to be spent between 2011-12 and 2014-15.

Edward Davey: In the policy statement 'Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age' the Government gave a breakdown of the £1.34 billion funding for the Post Office showing that 37% would be allocated to network modernisation (for example capital costs to refurbish branches), 7% to technology (for example to install new PIN pads across the network), 5% to project costs (for example staff to oversee network modernisation) and 3% to other purposes (for example head office cost saving initiatives). The funding allocation by year is: £180 million in 2011 -12; £410 million in 2012-13; £415 million in 2013-14 and £330 million in 2014-15.

Post Offices: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from independent and third sector organisations on the funding for the Post Office announced on 27 October 2010.

Edward Davey: To date, the Department has received one representation from independent or third sector organisations about the £1.34 billion funding for the Post Office announced last October, that being from PayPoint plc.

Postal Boxes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he is taking steps to ensure that red post boxes with the Royal insignia are retained within any proposed changes that are planned for Royal Mail.

Edward Davey: Royal Mail has no plans to change the colour of post boxes which forms part of one of the most recognised brands in the UK. We believe that it would not make commercial sense for any new owners of Royal Mail to seek to dismantle this brand and to go to the expense of re-painting all 115,000 post boxes a different colour. With regard to the use of the royal associations, the Government believe that Royal Mail should continue to use the royal cypher on post boxes, and discussions on this matter are ongoing.

Pupils: Foreign Nationals

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the access performance indicators referred to in his Department's Guidance to the Director of Fair Access will include  (a) non-UK citizens attending UK schools,  (b) UK citizens attending schools outside the UK and  (c) non-UK citizens attending schools outside the UK.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes the performance indicators in higher education on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. All the access performance indicators are restricted to students who are residents of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland only, i.e. they do not report on non-UK residents. Therefore, neither non-UK residents attending UK schools nor non-UK residents attending schools outside the UK are included in the indicators.
	Subject to the residency condition (rather than a UK citizen condition), all UK students are reported on. However, UK residents who report their school as being overseas would normally be categorised as unknown for the state schools indicator. For the low participation neighbourhood (LPN) indicator, whether such students are categorised as unknown or LPN/not LPN, depends on where their home postcode is reported. If it is an overseas postcode, they will be classified as unknown. For the lower socio-economic groups indicator, UK residents will be included regardless of whether they studied at a UK or an overseas school.
	More information on the performance indicators is available on the HESA website:
	http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1703&ltemid=141

Regional Development Agencies

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals to enable regional development agencies to guarantee the payment of grants for regional projects beyond the life-span of the agency;
	(2)  if he will guarantee outstanding grants agreed by One North East which are not made before the agency is abolished.

Mark Prisk: The spending review settlement provides resources for One North East and the eight other regional development agencies (RDAs) to meet their legal commitments. It is expected that RDAs will honour existing contracts and grant agreements but there may be circumstances where they will seek to negotiate variations with the parties concerned. Arrangements will be made to ensure payment of agreed grant amounts due after abolition of the agencies.

Research: Information Services

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what correspondence he has received from the  (a) private and  (b) voluntary sector on future sponsorship of the R&D Scoreboard.

David Willetts: No correspondence has been received from either the private or voluntary sector on future sponsorship of the R and D Scoreboard.

Skills and Jobs Retention Group

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011,  Official Report, column 96W, on the Skills and Jobs Retention Group, what the name is of each member of the Skills and Jobs Retention Group; and to which company or body each belongs.

Mark Prisk: With apologies for the omission of this information from the original answer, the membership of the Skills and Jobs Retention Group is as follows:
	
		
			   Title 
			  Chair:  
			 Allan Cook Chairman of Atkins and SEMTA 
			   
			 Mark Barclay Senior Vice President and Head of Centre of Excellence-Airbus 
			 Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson Chief Executive Officer Nuclear New Build-EDF Energy 
			 Graham Chisnall Managing Director Commercial Aerospace and Operations-ADS 
			 James Fothergill Head of Education and Skills-CBI 
			 Bernine Hamilton National Officer Aerospace and Shipbuilding-Unite 
			 Frank Hayden Group Manufacturing Director-Rolls Royce 
			 Colin Lawther Vice President Europe Production Engineering-Nissan 
			 Juergen Maier Managing Director UK Industry Sector-Siemens 
			 Dick Martin Chairman-Kembrey Wiring Systems Limited 
			 John Whelan Human Resources Director Programmes and Support-BAE Systems 
			 Janice Munday Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Services-The Department for Business Innovation and Skills 
			 Susan Scholefield Director General, Human Resources and Corporate Services-Ministry of Defence

Small Businesses

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what definition of a  (a) micro,  (b) small and  (c) medium-sized business his Department uses.

Mark Prisk: The Department's annual National Statistics and other research use the following definition for micro, small and medium-sized businesses:
	
		
			   Employees 
			 Micro 0-9 
			 Small 0-49 
			 Medium 0-249 
		
	
	The European Union uses the following definitions which apply to policies that directly impact on small and medium-sized business, except in company accounting and reporting:
	
		
			   Maximum headcount(employees and self-employed)  Maximum annual turnover  (€ million)  Maximum annual balance sheet total turnover  (€ million) 
			 Micro 9 2 2 
			 Small 49 10 10 
			 Medium 249 50 43

Small Businesses: Loans

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on discussions with banks on increasing levels of lending to small and medium-sized enterprises  (a) at less cost and  (b) with improved conditions.

Mark Prisk: As announced in the House on 9 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 310-13, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), the UK's five major banks have stated a capacity and willingness to lend £190 billion of new credit to business in 2011. This includes £76 billion of new lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is a 15% increase on the amount lent in 2010. Should demand from viable businesses exceed this amount, the banks will lend more.
	By making this an integral part of the CEO remuneration package, the Government have also ensured that SME lending is taken more seriously than ever by banks.
	In addition to these commitments from the major banks, the Government are also working with the British Banking Association (BBA) and the Business Finance Taskforce Banks on a range of commitments set out in their response to the Green Paper "Supporting UK business", which aims to assist small businesses with access to finance issues. These commitments include improved data on availability and price of finance, strengthened the Lending Code and lending principles and new internal appeals processes for SMEs who feel they have been unfairly rejected for a loan.

Small Businesses: Manpower

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist small businesses with recruiting and maintaining their workforce.

Mark Prisk: The Government are reviewing employment laws to ensure they provide the flexibility that businesses need and to support economic growth, without compromising fairness.
	As an important first step in reviewing employment laws, last month we launched a consultation document on the reform of the Employment Tribunal system-'Resolving Workplace Disputes'-and the Employer's Charter.
	'Resolving Workplace Disputes' sets out a package of proposals aimed at resolving workplace disputes much earlier and avoiding the cost and stress of going to an employment tribunal. Where cases do need to go to a tribunal, we have proposed a number of solutions to ensure the system operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The Employer's Charter sets out what an employer can already do to address staff issues in the workplace. Both the tribunals consultation and the Employer's Charter are designed to give renewed confidence to businesses to recruit new employees.
	On regulation more broadly, we are removing or delaying unnecessary measures wherever possible and have introduced the revolutionary one-in, one-out system that will cut the costs that businesses face in dealing with bureaucracy.

Social Security Benefits: Advisory Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2011,  Official Report, column 912W, on social security benefits: advisory services, what proportion of the funding of at least £470 million over the spending review period was additional to funding for such activity in the equivalent funding settlement for the period to 2010-11.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The £470 million represents the settlement provided for the Cabinet Office to support civil society organisations over the next spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15). This funding provides for a number of new coalition Government programmes including supporting 40,000 young people through the National Citizen Service, the Transition Fund, support for the creation of employee owned mutuals and community based funds. In addition to this funding, the creation of the Big Society Bank will unlock new finance for social enterprises, charities and voluntary organisations.
	Over the last spending review period (CSR2007), £515 million was allocated to the equivalent Cabinet Office programme to support the sector. Many of these programmes come to an end in March 2011.

South East of England Development Agency: Land

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the  (a) size and  (b) monetary value of land assets held by the South East of England Development Agency.

Mark Prisk: Details of the value of the South East of England Development Agency SEEDA's assets, including land, are contained in its Annual Report and Accounts (HC206). Detail of the extent of its land assets were provided to my hon. Friend for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) on 28 October 2010,  Official Report column 458W.

Space Technology

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to make an announcement on the Government's space policy.

David Willetts: The formal documents to create the UK Space Agency are expected to be laid before parliament by April 2011.

Students: Finance

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what arrangements are in place to recover domestic student loan repayments from graduates living and working overseas; and what proportion of expatriate graduates with student loan liabilities made repayments in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) applies the same mechanisms to all borrowers who move overseas after leaving their course.
	The SLC has established repayment arrangements for borrowers who move abroad, whether temporarily or because they live in another country. The SLC requests information about earnings and provides the borrower with a monthly repayment schedule under the terms of the contract of the loan. The SLC converts the income into pounds sterling and tells the borrower the amount they will need to repay each month in pounds sterling.
	Repayments can be made in a number of ways: debit/credit card; cheque; standing order/direct debit; or by logging into the online account on the student loan repayment portal.
	There is a system of banded thresholds for countries outside the UK, which takes account of the level of affordability in other countries. This means that repayment will remain based on ability to repay, wherever the borrower lives.
	At 30 April 2010, 8,800 English domiciled borrowers living overseas were earning above the threshold for the country and making repayments. A further 2,200 were in arrears and 1,200 had not provided details of income and were therefore considered in arrears. Therefore 72% of eligible borrowers were in repayment.

Students: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on proposals to introduce an early repayment levy for those repaying student loans early; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Government are committed to the progressive nature of the repayment system. It is therefore important that those on the highest incomes post graduation are not able unfairly to buy themselves out of this progressive system by paying off their loans early. Any early repayment mechanism would need to ensure that graduates on modest incomes who strive to pay off their loans early through regular payments are not penalised.
	The Government will consult on early repayment mechanisms in due course.

Students: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps the Government have taken to provide financial assistance to those entering further education.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has an established range of financial assistance which has enabled adults to participate and remain in further education.
	In the November publication "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth", the Department made a commitment to create an enhanced adult learner support fund over the next two years. This will simplify the support for learners and providers, while ensuring future funds target those learners most in need of assistance to succeed.

Students: Loans

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of graduates resident in  (a) the London borough of Bexley and  (b) London who have not made any student loan repayments since the present system of student finance came into operation.

David Willetts: The estimated number of borrowers residing in Bexley or London who have not made any loan repayments since the present system of income contingent loan repayments came into operation is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Latest known address( 1) 
			   Bexley  London 
			 Number of borrowers(2) 1,200 68,100 
			 (1) This corresponds to the address given by the borrowers when they opened the last loan account. The borrower may have moved elsewhere since. (2) The table covers all cohorts liable to repay with at least one tax year processed-i.e. those who came into repayment during tax year April 2000/01 to April 2008/09 inclusive.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

Students: Loans

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the policy of the Student Loans Company is on arrangements for practising Muslim students to pay interest on student loans.

David Willetts: The interest rate charged is applied uniformly across all student loan customers, based on the type of loan held and relevant legislation.
	There are no separate arrangements for members of any particular faith. The Government have no plans to change this policy as part of the proposed reforms of student finance.
	The Government believe that student loans would not be covered by Islamic rules because their overall terms are so much more favourable than those available commercially.